Abstract
Digestive cancers are a significant global public health challenge due to their high incidence and mortality rates. Emerging research highlights the pivotal role of circular RNA (circRNA) and autophagy in the progression of digestive cancers. This review provides a summary of recent findings, showing that circRNA-mediated autophagy could either promote or suppress tumor development in esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. CircRNAs could regulate autophagy in digestive cancers by acting as competitive endogenous RNAs, influencing downstream target genes and signaling pathways. Dysregulated circRNAs contribute to tumor onset, progression, and chemoresistance by altering autophagy levels. Targeting specific circRNAs to modulate autophagy may offer potential as a diagnostic, prognostic biomarker, or therapeutic strategy for digestive cancers.
1 Introduction
Digestive cancers include esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer and related cancers (). These cancers contribute to approximately one-third of global cancer-related deaths (). Among digestive cancers, colorectal, gastric, and liver cancers are the most prevalent globally. In 2022, nearly 20 million new cancer cases were reported worldwide, including 1.9 million cases of colorectal cancer (9.6% of all cases) and 0.98 million cases of gastric cancer (4.9%). Colorectal cancer ranked as the second leading cause of cancer deaths (9.3%), followed by liver cancer (7.8%) and gastric cancer (6.8%) (, ). As the global population ages, the incidence of digestive cancers is projected to rise significantly, imposing substantial economic challenges (). By 2050, the global treatment costs for digestive tract cancers are estimated to reach $5.86 trillion (). This underscores the urgent need for prioritized screening and interventions to mitigate future economic impacts. Despite technological advancements in diagnosing and treating digestive system cancers, these diseases remain a leading cause of death, particularly in patients with advanced or metastatic conditions. Surgery remains the primary treatment for early-stage digestive cancers. However, advanced tumors often resist chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to cancer cell spread, resulting in limited treatment efficacy and poor patient prognosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying digestive system cancer is essential for advancing diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Early detection of digestive system cancer and improving its sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain critical challenges.
Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that lack 5′-caps and 3′-polyadenylated tails, forming a stable circular structure through covalent bonds (, ). Initially, circRNAs were thought to be by-products of abnormal splicing (). However, recent advances in research have revealed their significant roles in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and chemoresistance (–). The function of circRNAs in tumors is shown in Figure 1. CircRNAs have dual effects on cancer progression. Cancer-related circRNAs are classified as oncogenic circRNAs and tumor-suppressive circRNAs (). Oncogenic circRNAs promote tumor progression and are typically overexpressed in cancer cells. Tumor-suppressive circRNAs prevent tumorigenesis by regulating processes like cell growth, apoptosis, and other cancer-related activities (). Du et al. found that m6A-mediated upregulation of circMDK contributed to tumorigenesis in lung cancer (). Wang et al. reported that upregulation of hsa_circRNA_100269 suppressed gastric cancer growth and metastasis by inactivating the PI3K/Akt axis ().
Figure 1
Research highlights autophagy as a key factor in the progression of various cancers (Figure 2), including those affecting the digestive system (). Autophagy contributes to cancer progression by enabling survival under nutrient deprivation and hypoxia (, ), while also inducing programmed cell death to suppress cancer growth (). Growing evidence suggests that circRNA promotes apoptosis by regulating autophagy (). CircRNAs regulate autophagy through multiple mechanisms including regulating the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins (–). Furthermore, circRNAs function as molecular sponges, binding to autophagy-related miRNAs, thereby influencing cancer phenotypes such as survival, proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis (, –). For example, (1) Initiation phase: CircRNAs modulated autophagy onset by influencing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway (); (2) Phagophore nucleation stage: Certain circRNAs regulated autophagy initiation by targeting critical molecules such as ATG14 () and Beclin1 (, ); (3) Membrane expansion stage: CircRNAs affected autophagosome extension by modulating the ATG5–ATG12–ATG16L complex and the LC3 conjugation system (, , ); (4) Autophagosome maturation and fusion: In later stages, circRNAs regulated proteins such as STX17 () and RAB10 (), thereby influencing the formation and fusion of autolysosomes. However, the precise mechanisms by which circRNA regulates autophagy to affect digestive system tumors remain unclear, necessitating further research. This review synthesizes current literature to explore the role of the circRNA-autophagy axis in the progression and prognosis of digestive system tumors, offering insights for improved treatments. Furthermore, circRNAs have been recognized as key regulators of autophagy in various cancer types (). This review aims to explore the role of circRNAs in regulating autophagy in digestive system tumors, with the potential to inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for these cancers.
Figure 2
2 The role of autophagy in digestive cancer
Autophagy, also known as type II programmed cell death, is a conserved cellular process that helps cells adapt to external environmental changes while maintaining energy balance and homeostasis (). The primary forms of autophagy are macroautophagy, microautophagy and molecular chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) (). The most commonly studied autophagy usually refers to macroautophagy. In addition, autophagy also includes selective autophagy such as mitophagy, reticulophagy and ribophagy, etc. Mitophagy, a classical form of selective autophagy, plays a vital role in various cellular processes, including cell survival, differentiation, development, senescence, and apoptosis (). It is also closely associated with numerous diseases, particularly cancer. Recent studies suggest that mitophagy exerts context-dependent effects during different stages of tumor progression (): In the early stages of tumorigenesis, mitophagy helps maintain cellular homeostasis by removing damaged mitochondria, thereby preserving metabolic balance and preventing stress-induced cellular injury. This process contributes to tumor suppression (). In the later stages of tumor development, cancer cells exploit mitophagy to adapt to hostile microenvironments, such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. By enhancing mitophagy, tumor cells increase their stress tolerance and survival capacity, ultimately promoting tumor progression ().
Autophagy plays a dual role in the progression of digestive cancer. During the early transformation of normal cells into cancer cells, autophagy suppressed tumor growth and prevent cancer formation (, ). However, as tumors progress, autophagy inhibited apoptosis, enhanced neovascularization, and facilitated metastasis, driving continuous tumor cell proliferation (). For example, as for the tumor-promoting function of autophagy. Huang et al. demonstrated that reduced Claudin5 expression enhanced malignant progression and radiotherapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via Beclin1-mediated autophagy (). Wu et al. found that LncRNA SNHG11 drived gastric cancer progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoting oncogenic autophagy (). Qian et al. reported that thioredoxin related transmembrane protein 2 (TMX2) enhanced hepatocellular carcinoma cell viability by inducing autophagy and mitophagy (). Devenport et al. revealed that colorectal cancer cells relied on autophagy to sustain mitochondrial metabolism to promoting proliferation under nutritional stress (). Cui et al. discovered that fructose-induced mTORC1 activation accelerated pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing autophagy (). Regarding the tumor-suppressive role of autophagy. Hong et al. found that Echinatin inhibited esophageal cancer growth and invasion by inducing AKT/mTOR-dependent autophagy and apoptosis (). Wang et al. reported that knocking down PTBP1 (polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1) suppressed gastric cancer progression by inducing oxidative stress via TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein), disrupting autophagic flux (). Zhang et al. found that DDX5 (DEAD box protein 5) inhibited liver tumorigenesis by promoting autophagy through interaction with p62/SQSTM1 (). Huang et al. demonstrated that artesunate inhibited colorectal cancer cell growth by promoting ROS-dependent autophagy (). Li et al. found that Sirtuin 4 activated autophagy by upregulating the p53 signaling pathway, thereby suppressing pancreatic cancer initiation and progression ().
These findings underscore the close association between autophagy and digestive cancer progression. Thus, regulating autophagy expression is crucial for treating digestive cancers. Autophagy is regulated by various factors, including proteins, genes, and signaling pathways. For instance, mTOR, a key regulator of cell growth and metabolism, is a central pathway in autophagy regulation (). Additionally, cancer-related genes (e.g., p53, p62, p21) and signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, AKT/mTOR) also regulate autophagy by either promoting or inhibiting its activity (, ).
3 Regulation of autophagy by circRNAs in digestive cancer
As mentioned above, more and more evidence suggests that circRNA-mediated autophagy plays an important role in the digestive system (Figure 3). Therefore, the roles of circRNA-mediated autophagy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Table 1), hepatocellular carcinoma (Table 1), pancreatic cancer (Table 1), gastric cancer (Table 2) and colorectal cancer (Table 3) were introduced in the following sections. The specific mechanism of circRNA-mediated autophagy in different digestive system tumors is shown in Figures 4–6.
Figure 3
Table 1
| Cancers | CircRNA | Target gene/ Regulatory pathway | Pro/Antitumor | Anti-/Proautophagy | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESCC | ciRS‐7 | miR‐1299/EGFR/Akt/mTOR signaling | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| circ-TTC17 | miR‐145-5p/SIRT1 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () | |
| HCC | circ_0027345 | miR-345-5p/HOXD3 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| circ_0011385 | miR-149-5p/WT1 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () | |
| circCBFB | miR-424-5p/ATG14 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () | |
| circTGFBR2 | miR-205-5p/ATG5 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () | |
| PC | circRHOBTB3 | miR-600/NACC1/Akt/mTOR axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () |
| circATG7 | miR-766-5p/ATG7 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () |
The role of autophagy modulated by circRNAs in ESCC, HCC and PC.
Table 2
| CircRNA | Target gene/ Regulatory pathway | Pro/Antitumor | Anti-/Proautophagy | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIRC6 | miR-488/GRIN2D-mediated CAV1-autophagy | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| CUL2 | miR-142-3p/ROCK2 signaling | Antitumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| HIPK3 | miR‐508‐3p/Bcl‐2/beclin1/SLC7A11 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| CPM | miR-21-3p/PRKAA2 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () |
| POFUT1 | miR 488-3p/PLAG1-ATG12 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () |
| hsa_circ_0001658 | miR-182/RAB 10 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | () |
| UBE2Q2 | miR-370-3p/STAT3 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| hsa_circ_0009109 | miR-544a-3p/Bcl-2 axis | Antitumor | Antiautophagy | () |
| circ_0091741 | miR-330-3p/TRIM14/Dvl2/Wnt/β-catenin axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (76) |
| RELL1 | miR-637/EPHB3 axis | Antitumor | Antiautophagy | (77) |
| PVT1 | miR-30a-5p/YAP1 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (78) |
| DHX8 | RNF5/ATG2B axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (79) |
The role of autophagy modulated by circRNAs in GC.
Table 3
| CircRNA | Target gene/ Regulatory pathway | Pro/Antitumor | Anti-/Proautophagy | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| circ CUL2 | miR-208a-3p/PPP6C axis | Antitumor | Proautophagy | (80) |
| circUBAP2 | miR-582-5p/FOXO1 signaling | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (81) |
| circCCDC66 | miR-3140/autophagy pathway | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (82) |
| circATG4B | TMED10 signaling | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (83) |
| circ_0060927 | miR-331-3p/TBX2 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (84) |
| circHIPK3 | miR-637/STAT3/Bcl-2/beclin1 axis | Pro-tumor | Antiautophagy | (85) |
| circSEC24B | OTUB1/SRPX2 axis | Pro-tumor | Proautophagy | (86) |
| circTBC1D22A | miR-1825/ATG14 axis | Antitumor | Proautophagy | (87) |
The role of autophagy modulated by circRNAs in CRC.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
3.1 Interaction of circRNAs and autophagy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
3.1.1 ciRS‐7/miR‐1299/EGFR/Akt/mTOR signaling
Circular RNA ciRS-7 is dysregulated in the pathogenesis of several tumors, including gastric, colorectal, renal cell carcinoma, and pancreatic cancer (88–91). CiRS-7 functions as a molecular sponge, binding to specific miRNAs to regulate downstream gene expression and signaling pathways. Meng et al. reported that ciRS-7 inhibited autophagy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells by acting as a miR-1299 sponge to target EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) signaling (). Specifically, ciRS-7 suppressed starvation- or rapamycin-induced autophagy in ESCC cells. Conversely, miR-1299 promoted starvation or rapamycin-induced autophagy in ESCC cells by directly binding to the EGFR and influencing the downstream Akt-mTOR pathway. Therefore, ciRS-7, as a miR-1299 sponge, inhibited autophagy in ESCC cells by targeting EGFR signaling pathway ().
3.1.2 circ-TTC17/miR‐145-5p/SIRT1 axis
It has been reported that upregulated circ-TTC17 has been shown to promote proliferation and migration in ESCC cells. Wang et al. suggested that circ-TTC17 regulated ESCC progression by acting as a sponge for miRNAs (92). In the report conducted by Liu et al., it was observed that circ-TTC17 was overexpressed in ESCC, while miR-145-5p was downregulated. Silencing circ-TTC17 suppressed ESCC cell proliferation and metastasis, while enhancing apoptosis and autophagy-mediated radiosensitivity. Further research indicated that miR-145-5p inhibits ESCC progression. Additionally, silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a downstream target of miR-145-5p, counteracts the inhibitory effects of miR-145-5p on ESCC progression when overexpressed. Therefore, circ-TTC17 promoted ESCC cell growth and metastasis via the miR-145-5p/SIRT1 axis while reducing autophagy-mediated radiosensitivity ().
3.2 Interaction of circRNAs and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma
3.2.1 circ_0027345/miR-345-5p/HOXD3 axis
Several studies have shown that circRNA plays a crucial role in tumor progression and gene regulation. In Sun et al.’s study, circRNA microarray analysis revealed that circ_0027345 was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, and the results were confirmed by qRT-PCR (93). MiR-345-5p has been identified as an anti-cancer factor in several human cancers, including pancreatic cancer (94), gastric cancer (95) and lung cancer (96). The expression of miR-345 was downregulated in HCC tissues and cells, and its overexpression inhibited cell metastasis (97). Matrine, an alkaloid isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait, was associated with the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of various tumors, including breast, liver, lung, and colorectal cancers (98). In an academic study conducted by Lin et al., Matrine inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of HCC cells while promoting autophagy by upregulating miR-345-5p and downregulating circ_0027345 and homeobox D3 (HOXD3) ().
3.2.2 circ_0011385/miR-149-5p/WT1 axis
Circ_0011385 has been reported as a potential tumor progressor. Downregulation of circ_0011385 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and tumor activity in HCC (99). The expression of circ_0011385 could be inhibited by Aloin, and its overexpression reduced the anti-tumor effects of Aloin on HCC, which could be reversed by miR-149-5p. Furthermore, miR-149-5p regulated HCC progression by modulating WT1 expression. Therefore, Aloin inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth by regulating the circ_0011385/miR-149-5p/WT1 axis, and promoted HCC cell apoptosis and autophagy ().
3.2.3 circCBFB/miR-424-5p/ATG14 axis
CircCBFB has been shown to regulate cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and apoptosis via a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in diseases like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and abdominal aortic aneurysm (100, 101). CircRNAs are known to promote cancer development by interacting with miRNAs in HCC (102). MiR-424-5p, located on human chromosome Xq26.3, functions as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer. Zhao et al. found that circCBFB and ATG14 (autophagy-related 14) were overexpressed, while miR-424-5p was downregulated in HCC tissues. Furthermore, overexpression of circCBFB or ATG14 enhanced HCC cell proliferation and autophagy, while suppressing apoptosis. Therefore, circCBFB suppressed miR-424-5p expression and upregulated ATG14, promoting the proliferation and autophagy of HCC cells ().
3.2.4 circTGFBR2/miR-205-5p/ATG5 axis
Transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFBR2), a transmembrane serine-threonine kinase, functions as a tumor suppressor gene, often downregulated in various cancers (103). Wang et al. showed that circTGFBR2 was delivered into HCC cells through exosomes as a competitive endogenous RNA, binding and promoting the degradation of miR-205-5p. This increased the expression of autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), thereby enhancing protective autophagy and facilitating HCC progression ().
3.3 Interaction of circRNAs and autophagy in pancreatic cancer
3.3.1 circRHOBTB3/miR-600/NACC1/Akt/mTOR axis
CircRHOBTB3 is generated through splicing and cyclization of the RHOBTB3 gene, which encodes a Rho GTPase family ATPase involved in membrane transport and proteasome degradation (104–106). Previous studies have identified circRHOBTB3 as a tumor suppressor circRNA in HCC (107). However, circRHOBTB3 is overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Yang et al. showed that circRHOBTB3 directly bound to miR-600, acting as a sponge to maintain the expression of its target gene, NACC1. This interaction promoted autophagy in PDAC cells via the Akt/mTOR pathway, supporting cell proliferation. Additionally, the RNA-binding protein FUS binds to pre-RHOBTB3 mRNA, facilitating the biosynthesis of circRHOBTB3. Therefore, circRHOBTB3 acted as a tumor activator, promoting PDAC cell proliferation through autophagy regulation via the miR-600/NACC1/Akt/mTOR axis ().
3.3.2 circATG7/miR-766-5p/ATG7 axis
Autophagy-related 7 (ATG7) is a key regulator of autophagy. It has been reported that ATG7 promoted pancreatic cancer (PC) progression by recruiting ATG5–12 complexes, which are highly expressed in PC tissues (108, 109). In an academic study conducted by He et al., circATG7 was significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines compared to adjacent normal tissues and pancreatic epithelial cells. Patients with high circATG7 expression had a poorer overall survival rate. CircATG7 also acted as a sponge for miR-766-5p, decreasing its expression and increasing the expression of its target gene, ATG7. Consequently, circATG7 accelerated PC progression through the miR-766-5p/ATG7 axis ().
3.4 Interaction of circRNAs and autophagy in gastric cancer
3.4.1 circ-BIRC6/miR-488/GRIN2D-mediated CAV1-autophagy signaling
In the autophagy and circRNA literature, the most widely studied digestive cancer is the gastric cancer. Previous studies have been identified BIRC6 as a high-risk gene present in various cancers (110–112). Yang et al. found that circBIRC6 promoted non-small cell lung cancer cell progression by sponging miRNA-145 (113). Recently in the report of Liu et al., it was demonstrated that circBIRC6 acts as a molecular sponge for miR-488, upregulating GRIN2D expression and promoting gastric cancer (GC) cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Further studies have found that Overexpression of circBIRC6 increases GRIN2D expression, subsequently enhancing membrane caveolin-1 (CAV1) levels and inducing autophagy defects, significantly impacting tumorigenesis in vivo. Therefore, the circBIRC6/miR-488/GRIN2D axis promoted CAV1 expression in gastric cancer cells, leading to reduced autophagy ().
3.4.2 circCUL2/miR-142-3p/ROCK2 signaling
CircCUL2 is generated from the reverse splicing of CUL2 mRNA (from exon 2 to exon 4), located on chromosome 10:35,349,801-35,360,267, with a length of 339 nucleotides (nt). CircCUL2 is strongly associated with gastric cancer diagnosis, prognosis, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor-lymph node-metastasis (TNM) staging, and treatment response (114). Moreover, research has demonstrated a strong association between circCUL2 and the advancement of colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (80, 115). Additionally, abnormal miR-142-3p expression correlates with gastric cancer stage (116). In an academic study conducted by Peng et al., it was found that circCUL2 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Its overexpression suppressed malignant transformation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Further studies have found that circCUL2 enhanced cisplatin sensitivity by sponging miR-142-3p to modulate ROCK2-mediated autophagy, thereby influencing tumor progression ().
3.4.3 circHIPK3/miR‐508‐3p/Bcl‐2/beclin1/SLC7A11 axis
CircHIPK3 has been reported to be dysregulated in various tumors. CircHIPK3 contributes to cancer progression through mechanisms like miRNA regulation and activation of traditional signaling pathways. Its effects include regulating the cell cycle, promoting cell proliferation, controlling apoptosis, and facilitating invasion and migration of cancer cells (117). Shang et al. found that circHIPK3 regulated cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by modulating autophagy and ferroptosis via miR-508-3p/Bcl-2/beclin1/SLC7A11 axis ().
3.4.4 circCPM/miR-21-3p/PRKAA2 axis
CircCPM is derived from the fourth, fifth and sixth exons of the carboxypeptidase M (CPM) gene. The role of circCPM in tumors has not been previously reported. Recently, Recently, Fang et al. discovered that circCPM was upregulated in 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer cell lines and tissues, with high expression correlating with poor survival outcomes in gastric cancer. Additionally, silencing circCPM significantly enhanced chemosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, circCPM bound directly to miR-21-3p in the cytoplasm, increasing PRKAA2 expression, promoting autophagy activation, and contributing to chemotherapy resistance ().
3.4.5 circPOFUT1/miR-488-3p/PLAG1-ATG12 axis
Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1) is an enzyme that adds serine or threonine residues to proteins through O-fucosylation and EGFR sequences via O-glycosidic bonds (118). POFUT1 has an oncogenic role in several cancers (119, 120). Dong et al. found that POFUT1 activated Notch/Wnt signaling pathways to promote gastric cancer development by the parafibromin-NICD1-β-catenin complex (121). Luo et al. showed that circPOFUT1 expression was upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells, and its increased levels are associated with poor prognosis. Further studies revealed that overexpression of circPOFUT1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion and autophagy-related chemotherapy resistance of gastric cancer cells, while overexpression of miR-488-3p inhibited these effects. In addition, circPOFUT1 directly bound to miR-488-3p, thereby activating PLAG1 and ATG12 expression. Thus, circPOFUT1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and autophagy-related chemotherapy resistance of gastric cancer by activating PLAG1 and ATG12 through miR-488-3p binding ().
3.4.6 hsa_circ_0001658/miR-182/RAB 10 axis
Recent studies have identified circRNA_0001658 as a key biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in tumor progression (122, 123). Duan et al. reported that circ_0001658 and RAB10 were upregulated, while miR-182 was downregulated in gastric cancer. Knockdown of circ_0001658 inhibited cell viability and autophagy in gastric cancer cells while increasing apoptosis. This inhibition was reversed upon downregulation of miR-182. Moreover, upregulation of RAB10 counteracted the effects of miR-182 on cell viability, autophagy, and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. Therefore, silencing circ_0001658 inhibits RAB10 expression by sponging miR-182, thereby reducing cell viability, inhibiting autophagy, and promoting apoptosis in gastric cancer cells ().
3.4.7 circUBE2Q2/miR-370-3p/STAT3 axis
UBE2Q2, also known as Ubci, is a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that is often overexpressed in cancer. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an oncogene in the STAT protein family (124). Increasing evidence shows that abnormal STAT3 activation contributed to tumorigenesis by regulating autophagy, the cell cycle, glycolysis, and metastasis (125, 126). Additionally, STAT3 activation is linked to advanced cancer stages and metastasis (127, 128). Yang et al. found that CircUBE2Q2 is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circUBE2Q2 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis, while increasing autophagy in vitro. Additionally, circUBE2Q2 knockdown reduced tumorigenicity and metastasis in vivo. Therefore, circUBE2Q2 regulated gastric cancer progression via the circUBE2Q2/miR-370-3p/STAT3 axis and promoted metastasis through exosomal communication ().
3.4.8 hsa_circ_0009109/miR-544a-3p/Bcl-2 axis
Hsa_circ_0009109 has been shown to promote gastric cancer progression by accelerating cell proliferation, enhancing migration and invasion, inhibiting apoptosis, and speeding up cell cycle progression. Additionally, hsa_circ_0009109 reduced the expression of autophagy-related proteins, and an increase in autophagosomes was observed following interference with hsa_circ_0009109. Finally, hsa_circ_0009109 promoted tumor growth and induces autophagy by targeting the miR-544a-3p/Bcl-2 axis ().
3.4.9 circ_0091741/miR-330-3p/TRIM14/Dvl2/Wnt/β-catenin axis
Tripartite motif containing 14 (TRIM14), a member of the TRIM protein family, plays a role in several biological processes and is often dysregulated in human cancers (129). Wang et al. reported that TRIM14 regulated the AKT signaling pathway by activating miR-195-5p, which modulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes migration and invasion in gastric cancer (129). Chen et al. found that reduced expression of hsa_circ_0009109 promoted gastric cancer progression by accelerating cell proliferation, enhancing migration and invasion, inhibiting apoptosis, and accelerating the cell cycle. Moreover, hsa_circ_0009109 decreased autophagy-related protein expression, and interference with hsa_circ_0009109 resulted in an increase in autophagosomes. Finally, hsa_circ_0009109 promoted tumor growth and induces autophagy by targeting the miR-544a-3p/Bcl-2 axis (76).
3.4.10 circRELL1/miR-637/EPHB3 axis
EPH receptor B3 (EPHB3) protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds to transmembrane liver ligand B to initiate bidirectional signal transduction. Recently, it was reported that EphB3 gene is a tumor suppressor gene (130). Sang et al. reported that circRELL1 block cell proliferation, invasion, migration and anti-apoptosis in patients with gastric cancer. Further studies have shown that circRELL1 adsorbed miR-637 and indirectly up-regulate the expression of EPHB3 by regulating the activation of autophagy in GC. In addition, circRELL1 inhibited the malignant behavior of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo through the exosome pathway. Therefore, exosomal circRELL1 regulated gastric cancer progression by regulating autophagy activation through the miR-637/EPHB3 axis (77).
3.4.11 circ-PVT1/miR-30a-5p/YAP1 axis
Circ-PVT1, derived from exon 2 of the PVT1 gene, forms a closed-loop structure through reverse splicing (131). As an oncogene, Circ-PVT1 is aberrantly expressed in various tumor types, including cervical, gastric, colorectal cancers, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, and is associated with poor prognosis in these malignancies (132). Yao et al. reported that exosomal circ-PVT1 was upregulated in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant gastric cancer serum and cells, while miR-30a-5p expression was downregulated. Further studies revealed that knockdown of circ-PVT1 promoted apoptosis and reduced invasion and autophagy by negatively targeting miR-30a-5p, thus inhibiting cisplatin resistance in resistant gastric cancer cells. Additionally, Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator (YAP1) was identified as a direct target of miR-30a-5p. Overexpression of miR-30a-5p inhibited DDP resistance by downregulating YAP1. Therefore, exosomal circPVT1 regulates autophagy, invasion, and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells via the miR-30a-5p/YAP1 axis, promoting cisplatin resistance (78).
3.4.12 circDHX8/RNF5/ATG2B axis
CircDHX8 (Hsa_circ_0003899) is a recently identified circular RNA that plays a significant role in gastric cancer. RNF5 (also known as RMA1) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in various physiological processes, including protein localization and cancer progression. For instance, Zhang et al. demonstrated that prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) competed with ATG4B to bind to RNF5, promoting ATG4B expression and influencing the self-renewal capacity of gastric cancer stem cells (133). In the academic study by Wei et al., it was found that circDHX8 stabilizes ATG2B by binding to the ubiquitinating enzyme RNF5, preventing the interaction between ATG2B and RNF5. Furthermore, acetylated ATG2B undergoes SIRT1-mediated deacetylation, which enhances its binding to RNF5, thereby promoting autophagy and tumor progression in gastric cancer (79).
3.5 Interaction of circRNAs and autophagy in colorectal cancer
3.5.1 circ CUL2/miR-208a-3p/PPP6C axis
CircCUL2 functions as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), it has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis and autophagy. Yang et al. reported that circCUL2 was downregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of circCUL2 suppressed CRC cell proliferation while inducing apoptosis and autophagy. CircCUL2 interacted with miR-208a-3p and regulates PPP6C expression. By sponging miR-208a-3p, circCUL2 inhibited CRC progression (80).
3.5.2 circUBAP2/miR-582-5p/FOXO1 signaling
CircUBAP2, originating from the ubiquitin-associated protein 2 gene, forms a closed-loop structure via reverse splicing. It plays a crucial role in tumor cell growth and metastasis across various cancers (134). Chen et al. discovered that circUBAP2 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines, promoting autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. CircUBAP2 directly interacts with miR-582-5p, acting as a molecular sponge. This interaction modulates the expression of its target gene, forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and associated downstream signaling pathways. Consequently, circUBAP2 promoted CRC progression and metastasis via the circUBAP2/miR-582-5p/FOXO1 axis (81).
3.5.3 circCCDC66/miR-3140/autophagy pathway
Recent studies have shown that circCCDC66 is overexpressed in colon cancer, contributing to tumor growth and metastasis (82, 135). Feng et al. found that hypoxia increases circCCDC66 expression, thereby facilitating CRC progression. Knockdown of circCCDC66 significantly decreased the viability, migration, and invasion of hypoxia-exposed CRC cells while promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-3140 deletion partially reversed the effects of circCCDC66 on the phenotype of hypoxic CRC cells. Thus, circCCDC66 promoted CRC progression under hypoxic conditions by modulating the miR-3140/autophagy axis (136).
3.5.4 circATG4B/TMED10 signaling
In an academic study conducted by Pan et al., ATG4B-derived circRNA (circATG4B) was increased in exosomes secreted by oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells. Additional research revealed that circATG4B encoded a novel protein, circATG4B-222aa, which competitively bound to Transmembrane P24 trafficking protein 10 (TMED10). This interaction inhibited TMED10 binding to ATG4B, leading to enhanced autophagy and chemotherapy resistance (83).
3.5.5 circ_0060927/miR-331-3p/TBX2 axis
Circ_0060927, originating from the CYP24A1 gene (located in chr20:52773707–52788209), is reported to be overexpressed in CRC (84, 137). Yin et al. demonstrated that deletion of circ_0060927 suppressed CRC cell proliferation, autophagy, migration, and invasion, while enhancing apoptosis and necrosis and reducing tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0060927 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-331-3p, thereby upregulating its downstream target gene, T-Box transcription factor 2 (TBX2), to drive cancer progression. Therefore, circ_0060927 facilitated CRC development by sponging miR-331-3p and upregulating TBX2 (84).
3.5.6 circHIPK3/miR-637/STAT3/Bcl-2/beclin1 axis
CircRNA homologous domain interacting protein kinase 3 (CircHIPK3) is implicated in human cancers (138). Extensive research highlights circHIPK3 as a miRNA sponge that regulates target genes to influence cell proliferation, invasion, and migration (139). Zhang et al. reported that circHIPK3 expression was increased in chemotherapy-resistant CRC patients. CircHIPK3 was found to enhance oxaliplatin resistance in CRC by suppressing autophagy. CircHIPK3 sponged miR-637, upregulated STAT3 expression, and activates the downstream Bcl-2/beclin1 signaling pathway, contributing to oxaliplatin resistance in CRC (85).
3.5.7 circSEC24B/OTUB1/SRPX2 axis
Wang et al. found that the expression of circSEC24B increased in CRC tissues and cell lines, and enhanced the proliferation and autophagy of CRC cells. Specifically, circSEC24B functioned as a scaffold to promote the binding of OTU Deubiquitinase, Ubiquitin Aldehyde Binding 1 (OTUB1) to Sushi repeat containing protein X-linked 2 (SRPX2), thereby enhancing its protein stability. In addition, OTUB1 regulated the expression of SRPX2 through an acetylation-dependent mechanism. In summary, circSEC24B activated autophagy by promoting the deubiquitination of SRPX2 and induced chemoresistance in CRC through the deubiquitinating enzyme OTUB1 (86).
3.5.8 circTBC1D22A/miR-1825/ATG14 axis
Growing evidence suggests that circRNAs play a key role in cancer progression and metastasis. Sun et al. found that miR-1825 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that miR-1825 was positively correlated with the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. CircTBC1D22A inhibited this event. Therefore, CircTBC1D22A directly interacted with miR-1825 and then acted as a miRNA sponge to regulate the expression of the target gene ATG14 and jointly promote autophagy-mediated CRC progression and metastasis (87).
4 Therapeutic potential related to circRNAs-autophagy mechanism
According to current evidence, circRNA-mediated autophagy regulation can affect the sensitivity of digestive system tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy (140). After radiotherapy or chemotherapy, tumor patients often trigger autophagy of tumor cells. Because autophagy is an important process for maintaining cellular energy balance and homeostasis, cancer cells may provide the energy needed to escape radiation and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis through autophagy, leading to treatment resistance (108). Studies have shown that autophagy-related circRNA mediates the resistance of tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy by affecting cell processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, drug resistance, and angiogenesis in digestive system tumors (gastric cancer and colorectal cancer) (, , 141). For instance, Fang et al. reported that circCPM promoted chemoresistance of gastric cancer by activating PRKAA2-mediated autophagy (), while Luo et al. showed that circPOFUT1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and autophagy-related chemotherapy resistance of gastric cancer by activating PLAG1 and ATG12 through miR-488-3p binding (). As for colorectal cancer, Wang et al. demonstrated that circSEC24B activated autophagy through OTUB1-mediated SRPX2 deubiquitination and induced chemoresistance in colorectal cancer (86). These findings provide new insights into the role of circRNA-mediated autophagy in digestive system radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Abnormally expressed circRNAs in digestive system tumors may work together with autophagy to determine the response of tumor cells to radiation and drug treatment, so this is a key area that needs further research.
5 Limitations and future perspectives
This study systematically reviewed the relationship between circRNAs and autophagy in digestive system tumors. The findings suggest that circRNAs in digestive system tumors influence cancer progression, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. It highlights the dual role of circRNAs in either activating or inhibiting autophagy. Similarly, autophagy exerts a dual regulatory effect on digestive system cancer progression. For example, in gastric cancer, circRNAs such as CPM, POFUT1, and hsa_circ_0001658 promote cancer progression by activating autophagy, while CUL2 and UBE2Q2 inhibit progression via autophagy activation. Conversely, HIPK3 promotes gastric cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy, whereas hsa_circ_0009109 inhibits progression through autophagy suppression. Despite these insights, limitations remain in understanding the role of autophagy-related circRNAs in digestive system cancers. (1) Individual differences: the patient heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment complexity result in significant variability in circRNA expression and autophagy activity, complicating the assessment of their roles in tumor progression. (2) Unclear mechanisms: The dual role of autophagy in tumor progression and its intricate pathways make its exact mechanisms in digestive system cancers difficult to decipher. Moreover, whether circRNA-based therapies rely solely on autophagy remains uncertain and requires further study. (3) Limited clinical research: Current findings are largely based on preclinical models, with minimal clinical studies. Thus, the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic potential of circRNAs and autophagy in digestive system cancers requires further investigation.
Future research should focus on the interplay between circRNA-mediated autophagy and other mechanisms driving tumor progression within the digestive system tumor microenvironment. Unraveling these mechanisms could pave the way for identifying valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as developing innovative therapeutic strategies for digestive malignancies. This review highlights the significant role of circRNA-related autophagy in the progression of digestive system tumors, such as esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, and colorectal cancers. CircRNA regulation can either promote or inhibit autophagy in these malignancies. The intricate network of circRNA-targeted genes and signaling pathways governs autophagy regulation, influencing the initiation and progression of digestive system tumors. Therefore, targeting these circRNAs to modulate autophagy represents a promising approach for developing reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as effective therapeutic strategies for digestive system tumors.
Statements
Author contributions
SS: Writing – original draft, Data curation, Visualization, Investigation, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization. AW: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Writing – original draft. YY: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Visualization. JL: Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Conceptualization.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, and/or publication of this article.
Acknowledgments
This research is supported by the Key Research and Development Project of the Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Provincial, China (No. 2022YFS0059), We acknowledge the support from Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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The authors declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
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Abbreviations
AKT, Protein kinase B; ATG14, Autophagy-related 14; CAV1, Caveolin-1; CeRNA, Competitive endogenous RNA; CMA, Chaperone-mediated autophagy; CPM, Carboxypeptidase M; CRC, Colorectal cancer; CrcRNA, Circular RNA; DDX5, DEAD box protein 5; DDP, Cisplatin; EGFR, Epidermal growth factor receptor; EPHB3, EPH receptor B3; ESCC, Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; FOXO1, Forkhead box protein O1; GRIN2D, Glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2D; HCC, Hepatocellular carcinoma; HOXD3, Homeobox D3; LncRNA, Long non-coding RNA; MiRNA, MicroRNA; mTORC1, Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1; NACC1, Nucleus accumbens-associated protein 1; OTUB1, OTU deubiquitinase, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1; PC, Pancreatic cancer; PDAC, Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; PGD2, Prostaglandin D2; PI3K, Phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PLAG1, Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1; PTBP1, Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1; POFUT1, Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1; PPP6C, Protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit; PRKAA2, Protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2; ROCK2, Rho-associated protein kinase 2; SIRT1, Silent information regulator sirtuin 1; SLC7A11, Solute carrier family 7 member 11; SRPX2, Sushi repeat containing protein X-linked 2; STAT3, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TBX2, T-Box transcription factor 2; TGFBR2, Transforming growth factor beta receptor II; TMED10, Transmembrane P24 trafficking protein 10; TMX2, Thioredoxin related transmembrane protein 2; TNM, Tumor-lymph node-metastasis; TRIM14, Tripartite motif containing 14; TXNIP, Thioredoxin-interacting protein; YAP1, Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator.
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Summary
Keywords
digestive cancer, circular RNA, autophagy, molecular mechanisms, chemoresistance
Citation
Shi S, Wei A, Yang Y and Li J (2025) Crucial roles of CircRNA-mediated autophagy in digestive cancer. Front. Oncol. 15:1615306. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1615306
Received
21 April 2025
Accepted
07 August 2025
Published
27 August 2025
Volume
15 - 2025
Edited by
Agnieszka Bialkowska, Stony Brook University, United States
Reviewed by
Maria Elizbeth Alvarez Sanchez, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Mexico
Viji Remadevi, University of Kansas Medical Center, United States
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 Shi, Wei, Yang and Li.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Juan Li, 17801002@qq.com; Yong Yang, yyxpower@163.com
Disclaimer
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