Co-Expression Network Analysis of Fbxw7-Associated LncRNAs Reveals Their Functions in Radiation-Induced Thymic Lymphoma

FBXW7, an E3-ubiquitin protein ligase in SCFs (SKP1-cullin-F-box) complex, is a major human tumor suppressor gene, and understanding mechanisms by which FBXW7 contributes to tumorigenesis is critical for the treatment of human cancers with FBXW7 deficiency. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of various biological processes. Here we have identified a set of lncRNAs that are associated with Fbxw7 deficiency. The correlation network and functional annotation analysis revealed that Fbxw7-associated lncRNAs regulate genes involved in cell cycle, DNA repair, metabolic process, and cell communication and adhesion. The number of coding genes that correlated with individual lncRNAs varied largely. A lncRNA on chromosome 15 (A_30_P01032978), which was upregulated in tumors from Fbxw7 deficient mice was positively correlated with 15 coding genes. High expression of this 15-gene signature was associated with poor prognosis in two independent human breast cancer studies. Our results open possible new avenues to understand mechanisms by which Fbxw7 deficiency increases tumor susceptibility via the alteration of lncRNAs.