CD274 and neoplasm: By precisely modulating the expressions of immune checkpoint proteins (e.g., PD-L1) (Wang et al., 2022), influencing the secretion of cytokines and chemokines, and orchestrating the recruitment, differentiation, and function of immune cells (including effector T cells, Treg cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)) (Lan et al., 2021), circRNAs shape the delicate balance between immunosuppression and immune activation within the TIME.