CircMMP11 is a Potential Recurrence Biomarker and Facilitates Progression of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is a deadly tumor with a high mortality rate and unsatisfactory treatment effect. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as a new kind of noncoding RNA molecules, were found to play a key role in variety of tumors. This study aimed to explore the participation of hsa_circ_0062558 (circMMP11) in the recurrence of ESCC and its role in ESCC progression. The expression of circMMP11 in tissue specimens and cells was measured using the RT-qPCR method. RNase R treatment assay and Actinomycin D treatment assay verified the stability of circMMP11. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to evaluate the clinical significance of circMMP11 in predicting postoperative recurrence. The capacities of circMMP11 on cellular behaviors were measured using cell counting kit (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. The circMMP11 expression was raised in ESCC tissues. The circMMP11 in tumor tissues of the recurrence/metastasis group was higher than that in the non-recurrence/metastasis group. ROC curve showed that circMMP11 in tumor tissues could detect the postoperative recurrence/metastasis of the patients with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.838. Silencing circMMP11 led to a reduction in the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of ESCC cells, and miR-671-5p inhibitor partially diminished the inhibitory effects of si-circMMP11. The high circMMP11 expression in postoperative tissues of patients with ESCC is correlated with recurrence and metastasis, and it has potential predictive value for postoperative recurrence and metastasis of patients. Inhibition of circMMP11 repressed ESCC cell behaviors by regulating miR-671-5p, which may be a potential target for early diagnosis of recurrence and treatment of ESCC.