A 15-lncRNA signature predicts survival and functions as a ceRNA in patients with colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of lncRNAs in CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed gene expression profiling to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs between 51 normal and 646 tumor tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Cox regression and robust likelihood-based survival models were used to find prognosis-related lncRNAs. A lncRNA signature was developed to predict the overall survival of patients with CRC. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify the optimal cutoff with the best Youden index to divide patients into different groups based on risk level. RESULTS: Eighty survival-related lncRNAs were identified and a 15-lncRNA signature was developed on the basis of a risk score to comprehensively predict the overall survival of patients with CRC. The prognostic value of the 15-lncRNA risk score was validated using the internal testing set and total set. The risk indicator was shown to be an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio =2.92; 95% CI: 1.73–4.94; P<0.001). Notably, all 15 lncRNAs (AC024581.1, FOXD3-AS1, AC012531.1, AC003101.2, LINC01219, AC083967.1, AL590483.1, AC105118.1, AC010789.1, AC067930.5, AC105219.2, LINC01354, LINC02474, LINC02257, and AC079612.1) were newly found to correlate with the prognosis of patients with CRC. Furthermore, the function of 15 lncRNAs was explored through the ceRNA network. These lncRNAs regulated coding genes that were involved in many key cancer pathways. CONCLUSION: A 15-lncRNA expression signature was discovered as a prognostic indicator for patients with CRC, which may act as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) to play a crucial role in the modulation of cancer-related pathways. These findings may allow a better understanding of the prognostic value of lncRNAs.