Overexpression of circPCNX specifically blocks the association of AUF1 with p21 (CDKN1A) mRNA, thereby enhancing the stability of p21 mRNA and increasing the level of p21, which acts as a major inhibitor of cell proliferation, inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer cells and impeding the malignant development of cervical cancer (Tsitsipatis et al., 2021) (Figure 3C). The gene discussed is CDKN1A; the disease is cervical cancer.