Identification and Validation of Immune-Related LncRNA Prognostic Signature for Lung Adenocarcinoma

This study aimed to establish a prognostic risk model for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We firstly divided 535 LUAD samples in TCGA-LUAD into high-, medium-, and low-immune infiltration groups by consensus clustering analysis according to immunological competence assessment by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Profile of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in normal samples and LUAD samples in TCGA was used for a differential expression analysis in the high- and low-immune infiltration groups. A total of 1,570 immune-related differential lncRNAs in LUAD were obtained by intersecting the above results. Afterward, univariate COX regression analysis and multivariate stepwise COX regression analysis were conducted to screen prognosis-related lncRNAs, and an eight-immune-related-lncRNA prognostic signature was finally acquired (AL365181.2, AC012213.4, DRAIC, MRGPRG-AS1, AP002478.1, AC092168.2, FAM30A, and LINC02412). Kaplan–Meier analysis and ROC analysis indicated that the eight-lncRNA-based model was accurate to predict the prognosis of LUAD patients. Simultaneously, univariate COX regression analysis and multivariate COX regression analysis were undertaken on clinical features and risk scores. It was illustrated that the risk score was a prognostic factor independent from clinical features. Moreover, immune data of LUAD in the TIMER database were analyzed. The eight-immune-related-lncRNA prognostic signature was related to the infiltration of B cells, CD4+ T cells, and dendritic cells. GSEA enrichment analysis revealed significant differences in high- and low-risk groups in pathways like pentose phosphate pathway, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, and P53 signaling pathway. This study helps to treat LUAD patients and explore molecules related to LUAD immune infiltration to deeply understand the specific mechanism.