CircKIAA0182-YBX1 Axis: A Key Driver of Lung Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance

Abstract

Lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, significantly limits treatment efficacy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance due to their stable structure, which protects them from degradation. In this study, we focus on circKIAA0182, a circRNA identified as highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells through profiling. We explore its role in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cisplatin resistance. Our findings show that circKIAA0182 promotes cisplatin resistance and tumor progression in NSCLC, in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we discovered that circKIAA0182 may interact with the RNA-binding protein YBX1, potentially mediating its oncogenic and cisplatin-resistant functions. The biological role of circKIAA0182 presents a promising target for developing therapeutic strategies to overcome NSCLC progression and cisplatin resistance.