Roles, mechanisms, and clinical implications of circHIPK3 in female malignancy: a comprehensive review

CircHIPK3, a recently identified circular RNA, has been implicated in the growth and metastasis of various malignant tumors. This non-coding RNA exhibits aberrant expression patterns in ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers and plays a crucial role in modulating cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. circHIPK3 exerts its regulatory effects by interacting with several microRNAs, including miR-7, miR-338-3p, miR-485-5p, miR-193a, miR-326, miR-1286, and miR-582-3p, and their downstream target genes. Dysregulation of circHIPK3 is associated with poor prognosis in female patients with malignant tumors. Given its significant involvement in these cancers, circHIPK3 is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the expression patterns, roles, mechanisms, and prognostic relationships of circHIPK3 in female malignant tumors. By elucidating its specific functions, this study aims to provide insights that may inform new strategies for personalized treatment approaches.