Circular RNA ANAPC7 Inhibits Tumor Growth and Muscle Wasting via PHLPP2–AKT–TGF-b Signaling Axis in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the cancer-type inducing the most severe cachectic phenotype. Recent studies describe ZIP4 as a main factor inducing pancreatic cancer through oncogenic miR-373 up regulation. The purpose of this study is to identify circular RNAs (circRNAs) able to mitigate the oncogenic activity of the ZIP4/miR-373 pathway. This study reveales circANAPC7 as a novel tumor suppressor, capable of buffering miR-373 molecules with a consequent increase of PHPLPP2 phosphatase activity. Accordingly, AKT/STAT5 pathway is downregulated such as the release of muscle wasting molecule TGF- β. In my thesis, I am describing this recent scientific manuscript, recently published, deeply discussing the scientific questions driving this work and the techniques applied to solve them.