The roles and function of circular RNA in prostate cancer.

Circular RNA (circRNA), a class of non-coding RNAs characterized by its covalently closed circular structure, exhibits high stability and resistance to degradation. Over recent years, circRNAs have emerged as key regulators in various biological processes, which influence tumorigenesis and progression through mechanisms such as regulating gene transcription, competitively binding to miRNA, interacting with proteins, and encoding peptides, making it a potential novel tumor biomarker or therapeutic target. Prostate cancer is increasingly becoming the most common cancer among men in many countries and regions worldwide. However, the specific molecular mechanism of malignant progression of prostate cancer is still not fully determined. In this review, we summarize the regulatory roles and molecular mechanisms of circRNA in prostate cancer, focusing on biological functions such as cell cycle, cell proliferation, apoptosis, ferroptosis, migration, invasion, metastasis, drug or radiotherapy resistance, and immune microenvironment. We provide advanced insights on the role, functions and potential clinical applications of circRNA in prostate cancer.