Hsa_circ_0041268 promotes NSCLC progress by sponging miR‐214‐5p/ROCK1

Circular RNAs hold significant regulatory functions during various tumors. However, the exact hsa_circ_0041268 roles in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) along with regulatory mechanism are unknown. In this study, RT‐qPCR was used to perceive hsa_circ_0041268 expressions in NSCLC cell lines. Our team constructed small interfering RNA for hsa_circ_0041268. NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis in nude mice were assayed to confirm hsa_circ_0041268 activities in NSCLC cells. We then used bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analyses to characterize the hsa_circ_0041268 downstream targets. The result shows that the expressions of hsa_circ_0041268 incremented in NSCLC cell lines and hsa_circ_0041268 downregulation decreased cell proliferation and migration. ROCK1 and miR‐214‐5p were hsa_circ_0041268 downstream targets. miR‐214‐5p downregulation or ROCK1 overexpression restored migration and proliferation abilities after hsa_circ_0041268 silencing. ROCK1 overexpression renovated migration and proliferation abilities after miR‐214‐5p overexpression. In vivo investigations confirmed that hsa_circ_0041268 downregulation inhibited tumor formation and metastasis in nude mice xenografts. Together, results demonstrated that hsa_circ_0041268 acted as tumor promoter through novel hsa_circ_0041268/miR‐214‐5p/ROCK1 axis, which highlighted its potential as NSCLC therapeutic agent.