Circ_0002232 Acts as a Potential Biomarker for AML and Reveals a Potential ceRNA Network of Circ_0002232/miR-92a-3p/PTEN

PURPOSE: Our research aimed to investigate the expression level of circ_0002232, which is transcribed from PTEN, and find out the association of circ_0002232/miR-92a-3p/PTEN network in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Circ_0002232 expression in 115 AML patients and 48 controls was detected by using real-time quantitative PCR. The diagnostic value of circ_0002232 expression was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyse the impact of circ_0002232 for overall survival. Associated network of circ_0002232 was predicted by using interaction prediction websites. RESULTS: Compared with controls, circ_0002232 was notably low-expressed in AML (P<0.001). According to the result of receiver operating characteristic curve, circ_0002232 expression could distinguish AML patients from controls (P<0.001). There were significant differences in patients’ age (P=0.004), FAB classifications (P=0.036), white blood cell count (P=0.041) and platelet count (P=0.021) between low-expressed circ_0002232 group and high-expressed circ_0002232 group. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between circ_0002232 expression and patients’ age (Pearson r=0.256, P=0.0057). Interestingly, we found that patients in low-expressed circ_0002232 group had better overall survival both in whole AML (P=0.030) and non-APL AML (P=0.014). Remarkably, the expression of circ_0002232 was positively correlated with PTEN (Spearman r=0.678, P<0.001). Furthermore, there was a negative correlation in AML between circ_0002232 and miR-92a-3p (Spearman r=−0.301, P=0.016), miR-92a-3p and PTEN (Spearman r=−0.324, P=0.034). Interaction prediction websites revealed that circ_0002232 might affect the expression of PTEN and the process of AML through sponging miR-92a-3p. CONCLUSION: Circ_0002232, one of the circRNAs transcribed from PTEN, was remarkably down-regulated in AML and could act as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of AML. In addition, there might be a potential association network of circ_0002232/miR-92a-3p/PTEN in AML.