Highly expressed circ_0000285 from serum and cervical exfoliated cells as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of early stage-cervical cancer

Circ_0000285 is reported to play an oncogenic role in the development of cervical cancer (CC). The aim of this research was to investigate the diagnostic power of circ_0000285 in CC. The expression of circ_0000285 in 116 healthy volunteers, 65 early-stage CC (ESCC) patients, and 87 locally advanced CC (LACC) patients was detected by qRT-PCR. The diagnostic values of circ_0000285 for CC and ESCC were evaluated by ROC curves analysis. The circ_0000285 expression was upregulated in serum and cervical exfoliated cells from preoperative CC patients compared to that of healthy volunteers. Increased circ_0000285 expression was found in preoperative LACC patients more than that in ESCC patients. The circ_0000285 expression was downregulated in serum from CC patients after surgery. The postoperative CC patients with high serum circ_0000285 expression was more prone to have a tumour relapse. High circ_0000285 expression was positively correlated with SCC-Ag level and HPV positive rate. The AUC of circ_0000285 for the diagnosis of CC and ESCC were 0.855 and 0.804, better than CA125 and SCC-Ag. When circ_0000285, CA125, SCC-Ag and HPV were combined, the AUC could reach 0.911 and 0.894. In summary, highly expressed circ_0000285 from serum and cervical exfoliated cells might be a promising diagnostic biomarker for ESCC.Impact statement<b>What is already known on this subject?</b> The CA125 and SCC-Ag have limitations in the diagnosis of ESCC. Recently, circRNAs have caused great attention and have been developing rapidly in clinical diagnosis of malignant tumours.<b>What do the results of this study add?</b> Highly expressed circ_0000285 from serum and cervical exfoliated cells might be used as a novel, non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis of ESCC.<b>What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research?</b> Circ_0000285 is superior to CA125 and SCC-Ag for the diagnosis of ESCC in clinical practice. The results help to supplement the shortcomings of traditional tumour markers and improve the diagnosis of ESCC. <b>What is already known on this subject?</b> The CA125 and SCC-Ag have limitations in the diagnosis of ESCC. Recently, circRNAs have caused great attention and have been developing rapidly in clinical diagnosis of malignant tumours. <b>What do the results of this study add?</b> Highly expressed circ_0000285 from serum and cervical exfoliated cells might be used as a novel, non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis of ESCC. <b>What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research?</b> Circ_0000285 is superior to CA125 and SCC-Ag for the diagnosis of ESCC in clinical practice. The results help to supplement the shortcomings of traditional tumour markers and improve the diagnosis of ESCC.