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.
Keywords: circular RNAs, circ_0002232 , miR-92a-3p , PTEN , acute myeloid leukemia