CircAFF1 Is a Circular RNA with a Role in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Migration

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), covalently closed RNAs that originate from back-splicing events, participate in the control of several processes, including those that occur in the development of pathological conditions such as cancer. Hereby, we describe circAFF1, a circular RNA overexpressed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Using RH4 and RH30 cell lines, a classical cell line models for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, we demonstrated that circAFF1 is a cytoplasmatic circRNA and its depletion impacts cell homeostasis favouring cell migration through the downregulation of genes involved in cell adhesion pathways. The presented data underline the importance of this circular RNA as a new partial suppressor of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumour progression and as a putative future therapeutic target.

Automated summary

In this study, a circular RNA called circAFF1 was found to be overexpressed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Depletion of circAFF1 was shown to affect cell homeostasis and promote cell migration through the downregulation of genes involved in cell adhesion pathways. These findings highlight the potential of circAFF1 as a future therapeutic target for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.