SRP328897 PRJNA747388 ircSTAU2 interacts with ELAVL1/MYC axis to promote MYC-driven transcription and tumorigenesis and predicts poor survival in prostate cancer Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed non-cutaneous cancer in men worldwide. Understanding of the biological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of PCa carcinogenesis is urgently needed. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) form a covalently closed loop that increases stability and creates biomarker potential. CircRNAs are known to play an important role in prostate cancer initiation and progression. In this study, we aim to identify the involvement of the circRNA in prostate cancer progression. We identified circSTAU2 as a significantly overexpressed gene, which was further proved to be an oncogenic circRNA associated with PCa progression. Mechanically, ELAV-like RNA-binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) is a versatile RNA-binding protein with a variety of interacting partners. We showed that circSTAU2 binds ELAVL1 to facilitate its interaction with MYC, leading to transactivation of MYC and upregulation of IL6 and other MYC target genes associated with prostate cancer progression. Knockdown of circSTAU2 inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in vivo. In this study, we reveal a new mechanism of prostate cancer progression and demonstrate the oncogenic role of the circSTAU2/ELAVL1/MYC axis in prostate cancer.