AIM2 and lung cancer: Collectively, this study demonstrates that circNEIL3 exerts its function as a ceRNA by directly binding to miR-1184, thereby abrogating the endogenous inhibitory effect of miR-1184 on the target gene PIF1, and inducing significant DNA damage, which in turn triggers AIM2 inflammasome activation to induce pyroptosis, ultimately affecting survival in lung cancer radiotherapy (Fig. 8).