Identification of a Ferroptosis-Related LncRNA Signature as a Novel Prognosis Model for Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, which makes prognosis prediction of LUAD very challenging. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death mechanism that is important in the survival of tumor cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered to be key regulators of LUAD development and are involved in ferroptosis of tumor cells, and ferroptosis-related lncRNAs have gradually emerged as new targets for LUAD treatment and prognosis. It is essential to determine the prognostic value of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in LUAD. In this study, we obtained RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data and corresponding clinical information of LUAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and ferroptosis-related lncRNAs by co-expression analysis. The best predictors associated with LUAD prognosis, including C5orf64, LINC01800, LINC00968, LINC01352, PGM5-AS1, LINC02097, DEPDC1-AS1, WWC2-AS2, SATB2-AS1, LINC00628, LINC01537, LMO7DN, were identified by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, and the LUAD risk prediction model was successfully constructed. Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) time curve analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and further demonstrated that the model has excellent robustness and predictive ability. Further, based on the risk prediction model, functional enrichment analysis revealed that 12 prognostic indicators involved a variety of cellular functions and signaling pathways, and the immune status was different in the high-risk and low-risk groups. In conclusion, a risk model of 12 ferroptosis related lncRNAs has important prognostic value for LUAD and may be ferroptosis-related therapeutic targets in the clinic.

Automated summary

The highly heterogeneous malignancy, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), poses challenges for prognosis prediction. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death mechanism, plays a crucial role in tumor cell survival. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators in LUAD development and are linked to ferroptosis, offering new targets for treatment and prognosis. By analyzing RNA sequencing data, a robust risk prediction model of 12 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs was constructed for LUAD, with functional enrichment analysis showing involvement in various cellular functions and signaling pathways, impacting immune status in different risk groups.