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). The gene discussed is PIF1; the disease is lung cancer.