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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2026; 18(6): 118678
Published online Jun 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.118678
Published online Jun 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.118678
Hsa_circ_0003848 promotes gastric cancer via miR-144-3p/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor and serves as a plasma biomarker in Helicobacter pylori infection
Zhe Li, Bo Zhang, Ke-Feng Hu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
Chun-Li Cao, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Li Z was responsible for collection and assembly of data; Li Z, Zhang B and Hu KF were responsible for provision of study materials or patients, prepared figures; Li Z, Zhang B and Cao CL were responsible for data analysis and interpretation, wrote the main manuscript text, performed experiments and verified the results; Li Z and Cao CL were responsible for administrative support; all authors were responsible for conception and design, reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version to be published.
Supported by Medical and Health Research Project of Zhejiang Province, No. 2023RC262 and No. 2024KY1491; and Ningbo Top Medical and Health Research Program, No. 2023020612.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, No. 2023176A-02.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Corresponding author: Chun-Li Cao, MD, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, 1518 Huancheng North Road, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Received: January 9, 2026
Revised: February 2, 2026
Accepted: March 19, 2026
Published online: June 15, 2026
Processing time: 152 Days and 7.4 Hours
Revised: February 2, 2026
Accepted: March 19, 2026
Published online: June 15, 2026
Processing time: 152 Days and 7.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Hsa_circ_0003848 is significantly upregulated in gastric cancer, particularly in Helicobacter pylori-positive cases, and functions as an oncogenic competing endogenous RNA by sponging miR-144-3p to activate mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor signaling. Its detectable elevation in plasma highlights its dual potential as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target.