Growing evidence indicates that circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in the regulation of tumor biological behaviors. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of a novel circRNA, circ_0034642, in glioma. qRT-PCR was conducted to evaluate the levels of circ_0034642 in glioma tissues and cells. In addition, the clinical severity and prognostic role of circ_0034642 were illustrated. Functionally, loss and gain-of function assays were performed by CCK-8, colony-forming, flow cytometric and transwell experiments in glioma cells. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the mechanism of circ_0034642. Circ_0034642 was upregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines. Overexpressed circ_0034642 was correlated with adverse phenotypes in the patients with glioma. In addition, circ_0034642 could be regarded as a prognostic predictor for glioma patients. Moreover, circ_0034642 could promote cell proliferation, migratory and invasive capacities and inhibit cell apoptosis. For the mechanism investigation, circ_0034642 was proved to be a sponge of miR-1205, and miR-1205 could regulate BATF3 expression via targeting 3'UTR of BATF3. Rescue assays also illustrated that the oncogenic function of circ_0034642 is partly attributed to its modulation on miR-1205/BATF3 axis. Collectively, circ_0034642/miR-1205/BATF3 pathway may play an important role in glioma. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.