AKT1 and neoplasm: Our present study observed several new findings regarding circRNAs’ role in NSCLC: (1) via microarray analyses, 25 circRNAs were engaged in NSCLC development and LNM; (2) circ_0008594 promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion but affected stemness less; (3) miR-760-mediated PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways were implicated in the effect of circ_0008594 on NSCLC; and (4) in vivo experiments further validated circ_0008594 as a tumor promoter and its interaction with miR-760-mediated PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways in NSCLC.