WITHDRAWN: circ_0035277 Promotes Gastric Cancer Proliferation and Metastasis via miR-576-3p/LIN28B Axis

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate biological processes of human tumours. Gastric cancer is a prevalent disease that presents tumours with high metastasis. This study aimed to understand regulatory function and mechanism of circ_0035277 in gastric cancer development. circ_0035277 level in tissues and cells was assessed using RT-qPCR assay. Function of circ_0035277 was evaluated via CCK-8, colony formation and Transwell assays. Location of circ_0035277 was verified with FISH assay. Potential mechanism of circ_0035277 was examined using bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays. BALB/c nude mice were utilised to construct the gastric cancer metastasis model with subcutaneous injection. Haematoxylin–eosin staining was performed to measure visible tumour nodules in lung tissues. Results showed that circ_0035277 is significantly up-regulated in tissues and cell lines of gastric cancer, accelerates the deterioration of gastric cancer, is significantly located in the cytoplasm and serves as a sponge to participate in gastric cancer by targeting miR-576-3p. Furthermore, lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B) was a direct target of miR-576-3p and reversed the role of circ_0035277/miR-576-3p on gastric cancer metastasis. In vivo studies have shown that knockdown of circ_0035277 suppresses gastric cancer metastasis. Overall, circ_0035277 accelerated gastric cancer progression and metastasis by regulating miR-576-3p/LIN28B axis. These findings can provide a potential target for the treatment of gastric cancer.