Hsa_circRNA_0040462: a sensor of cells’ response to CAP treatment with double-edged roles on breast cancer malignancy

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) represents a novel onco-therapeutic approach that has demonstrated its efficacy in many types of tumors. The efficacy of CAP is dose-dependent that determines the panel of tumors feasible for receiving CAP treatment under a certain parameter configuration. Identifying markers for easy and fast prognosis of tumors’ sensitivity in response to CAP exposure is of critical value towards optimized therapeutic outcome, the lack of which has largely limited the translation of CAP into clinics. Circular RNAs represent a novel type of biomarkers for disease diagnosis that is featured by easy detection and stability. Through whole transcriptome sequencing, followed by in vitro validations, computational predictions and preliminary functional studies, we identified hsa_circRNA_0040462 as a sensor of breast cancer cells’ response to CAP treatment. Yet we warrant the use of hsa_circRNA_0040462 as an onco-therapeutic target given its double-edged roles on breast cancer progression, i.e., suppressive on the growth and promotive on the migrative ability of triple negative breast cancer cells. Our study for the first time focused on markers prognostic of CAP’s efficacy and tumors’ sensitivity to CAP treatment under a certain parameter configuration, and reported hsa_circRNA_0040462 as a sensor of cells’ response to CAP treatment. Also, the uncovered dual roles of hsa_circRNA_0040462 further advanced our knowledge on the complex yet critical regulatory functionalities of circular RNAs in cancer progression.