Hsa_circ_0000515 sequesters microRNA‐296‐5p and elevates RNF44 expression to encourage the NSCLC progression

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are RNA molecules frequently involved in tumorigenesis. This research study focuses on the relevance of hsa_circ_515 (circ_515) to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and the downstream targets involved. Differentially expressed circRNAs in NSCLC were screened using a GSE158695 dataset. Circ_515 was overexpressed and indicated poor outcomes in patients with NSCLC. Knockdown of circ_515 repressed proliferation and invasiveness, while potentiated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of NSCLC cells, and upregulation of circ_515 led to converse trends. The candidate downstream transcripts of circ_515 were explored using integrated bioinformatic analyses. Ectopic expression of miR-296-5p reduced the malignance of NSCLC cells. Circ_515 sequestered miR-296-5p and blocked its suppressive role in RING finger protein 44 (RNF44) expression. Downregulation of RNF44 counteracted the oncogenic effects of circ_515. In vivo, the anti-tumor effects of circ_515 knockdown were reversed by miR-296-5p, while the tumor-promoting effects of circ_515 upregulation were abolished by RNF44 knockdown. All in all, our findings demonstrate that circ_515 sequesters miR-296-5p and elevates RNF44 expression to encourage the NSCLC progression. This study might provide new thoughts on NSCLC management.