Circular RNAs (
circRNAs) are a new class of long noncoding RNAs able to perform multiple functions, including sponging
microRNAs (
miRNAs) and
RNA-Binding Proteins (RBPs). They play an important role in gastric
carcinogenesis, but its involvement during
gastric cancer (GC) development and progression are not well understood. We gathered
miRNA and/or RBPs sponge
circRNAs present in GC, and accessed their biological roles through functional enrichment of their target genes or
ligand RBPs. We identified 54 sponge
circRNAs in GC that are able to sponge 51
miRNAs and 103 RBPs. Then, we evaluated their host gene expression using The
Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and observed that
COL1A2 is the most overexpressed gene, which may be due to circHIPK3/miR-29b-c/
COL1A2 axis dysregulation. We identified 27 GC-related pathways that may be affected mainly by circPVT1, circHIPK3 and circNF1. Our results indicate that circHIPK3/miR-107/
BDNF/LIN28 axis may mediate chemoresistance in GC, and that circPVT1, circHIPK3, circNF1, ciRS-7 and circ_0000096 appear to be involved in
gastrointestinal cancer development. Lastly, circHIPK3, circNRIP1 and circSMARCA5 were identified in different ethnic populations and may be ubiquitous modulators of gastric
carcinogenesis. Overall, the studied sponge
circRNAs are part of a complex RBP-
circRNA-
miRNA-
mRNA interaction network, and are involved in the establishment, chemoresistance and progression of GC.