Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2228-5881 15 3 2025 09 25 Therapeutic Potential of Circular RNAs as Targets for Cancer Treatment 533 551 10.34172/apb.025.45330 EN Milad Asadi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7846-2908 Sanam Sadeghi-Mohammadi Najibeh Shekari Venus Zafari Zahra Soleimani Ufuk Mert Maryam Seyyedi Ayse Caner https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3058-9971 Habib Zarredar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7217-7521 REVIEW 10.34172/apb.025.45330 2025 02 27 2025 06 25 Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs primarily generated through a back-splicing processes. These molecules exhibit extensive expression across various tissues, indicating their significant role in numerous biological processes, particularly in complex diseases such as cancer. Based on their origin, structure, and biogenesis, circular RNAs are categorized into exonic circRNAs (ecirc-RNAs), circular intronic RNAs (ci-RNAs), or exonic-intronic circRNAs (EIci-RNAs). Due to their covalently closed-loop configuration, it is necessary to develop specialized techniques to study them. CircRNAs are known to function as protein and microRNA sponges, regulate transcription, interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and, in rare cases, serve as templates for translation. In this review, we provide an overview of circRNA features, biogenesis, and functions. In addition, we summarize molecular methods for studying them and explain their significant roles in malignancies.