circRNA_0084043 promote malignant melanoma progression via miR-153-3p/Snail axis

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been found to play an important role in the regulation of multiple diseases, and participate in cancer development. However, the role of circRNA in malignant melanoma has not been reported. In this study, human circRNA microarray was used to screen the dysregulated circRNA in melanoma. We found that circRNA_0084043 was significantly up-regulated in melanoma tissue, and the result was replicated in a larger sample size. High circRNA_0084043 expression was an independent risk factor of overall survival in melanoma patients. circRNA_0084043 promotes melanoma cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that circRNA_0084043 directly binds to miR-153-3p, and Snail is directly targeted by miR-153-3p. We also demonstrated that circRNA_0084043 may act as the sponge of miR-153-3p to up-regulate Snail expression, and consequently function as an oncogene in melanoma. Overall, this result elucidates a new mechanism for circRNA_0084043 in melanoma development and provides a potential therapeutic target for melanoma patients.