Fig. 1

The experimental procedure of the study. We selected 30 patients (pts) who survived less than 2 years (< 2 years) as the unfavorable group. Propensity score analysis was used to select another 30 pts that survived more than 2 years (> 2 years) as the favorable group. In total, 60 patients (60 pts) were assigned to the training group and perform the circRNAs’ expression profile analysis. Here, one candidate circular RNA was identified and validated in the independent cohort of 218 pts. Finally, circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks and cellular metabolic analysis were conducted to decipher the biological feature of this circular RNA.