circRNA basic information
circBase ID: hsa_circ_0007938
Name: hsa_circ_EIF2S2
Synonym: circEIF2S2
Host Gene: EIF2S2
Genomic location(hg19): chr20:32684462-32686439:-
Genomic location(hg38): chr20:34096656-34098633:-
Subcellular localization: cytoplasm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Disease basic information
MONDO ID:
 0005575
MONDO name: colorectal cancer
Disease details: colorectal cancer
Disease DO ID:
 5672, 9256
Disease MeSH ID:
 -
Disease NCIt ID:
 C4978
Disease ICD11 ID:
 -
Disease OMIM ID:
 114500
Species: Human
Species details: Homo sapiens
Tissue specimen:

CRC tissues; adjacent normal tissues; tumor tissues; liver tissues; peripheral blood
Cell lines:

FHC; HT29; HCT116; LOVO; SW480; SW620
In vivo animal model:

cell line-derived xenograft
circRNA-disease information
Expression pattern:
UP
Associated gene: UHMK1, EIF4A3, EIF2S2 pre-mRNA, AGO2, PD-L1
Associated microRNA: miR-646
Biological function: Promotes CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth, liver metastasis, EMT, PD-L1-associated immune suppression, and unfavorable clinical outcomes; circEIF2S2 silencing suppresses these malignant phenotypes and enhances CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses.
Molecular mechanism: EIF4A3 promotes circEIF2S2 biogenesis by binding EIF2S2 pre-mRNA; cytoplasmic circEIF2S2 acts as a ceRNA sponge for miR-646, relieving repression of UHMK1 and increasing PD-L1-associated immunosuppression.
Biological pathway or process:

proliferation (promotes); migration (promotes); invasion (promotes); metastasis (promotes); EMT (promotes); immune regulation (promotes); ceRNA regulation (promotes); apoptosis (other)
Detected method:
Q
M
Validation methods:

Bioinformatics Analysis; RT-qPCR; Clinical Sample Validation; Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; Sanger Sequencing; RNase R Treatment; Actinomycin D / DRB Stability Assay; Transfection; CCK8; EdU Staining; Transwell Assay; Annexin V/PI Flow Cytometry; Western Blot; Flow Cytometry（Non-apoptosis/cycle）; ELISA; Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; RNA Pull-Down; Luciferase Reporter Assay; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); In Vivo Animal Model; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); H&E Staining; Cohort Study; Survival Analysis
Clinical significance:

circEIF2S2 is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes; high circEIF2S2 expression is associated with TNM stage, distant node metastasis, tumor differentiation, and poorer survival rates, suggesting potential prognostic and therapeutic value.
Description:

circEIF2S2 is a human colorectal cancer-associated circRNA that is significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines and whose high expression predicts poorer survival. It functions as an oncogenic and immunosuppressive circRNA by sponging miR-646 to increase UHMK1 expression, thereby promoting proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth, liver metastasis, EMT, PD-L1 expression, and suppression of CD8+ T cell responses. EIF4A3 acts upstream to promote circEIF2S2 biogenesis through interaction with EIF2S2 pre-mRNA.
Confidence score:

0.8913
Other information
Title:

EIF4A3-induced circEIF2S2 facilitates colorectal cancer growth, metastasis, and immune suppression via the miR-646/UHMK1 Axis.

Journal: International journal of biological macromolecules
Published: 2026
PubMed ID: 41544785
Study type:

combined biological and clinical study
Data availability: GSE223001; GPL21825; Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.150265; original data for the figure generation is available via email request to the corresponding author
Code availability: supplementary files