Low Expression of Long Noncoding RNA SLC26A4 Antisense RNA 1 Is an Independent Prognostic Biomarker and Correlate of Immune Infiltrates in Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Aberrant expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) SLC26A4 antisense RNA 1 (SLC26A4-AS1) plays an important role in some cancer types. However, the clinical significance of SLC26A4-AS1 in patients with breast cancer (BC) and the possible regulatory mechanisms of SLC26A4-AS1 are unclear. MATERIAL/METHODS: Statistical analysis was used to assess the correlation between SLC26A4-AS1 expression and patients’ clinical characteristics. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the correlation between SLC26A4-AS1 expression and prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immuno-infiltration analysis were used to investigate the possible regulatory mechanisms of SLC26A4-AS1. RESULTS: Low SLC26A4-AS1 expression in BC was associated with age (P<0.001), estrogen-receptor status (P<0.001), PAM50 (P<0.001), and menopause status (P<0.001). Low SLC26A4-AS1 expression predicted a poorer overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40–0.78; P=0.001) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.37–0.88; P=0.011). Also, SLC26A4-AS1 expression (HR: 0.298; 95% CI: 0.154–0.579; P<0.001) was independently correlated with OS in patients with BC. SLC26A4-AS1 was related to CYP2E1 reactions, protein export, mitochondrial_ciii_assembly, formation of adenosine triphosphate by chemiosmotic coupling, budding and maturation of HIV virion, cristae formation, biocarta proteasome pathway, endosomal sorting complex required for transport, and histone modification. SLC26A4-AS1 expression was associated with some types of immune infiltrating cells. CONCLUSIONS: SLC26A4-AS1 expression was significantly associated with poor survival and immune infiltration in patients with BC. It may be a promising prognostic biomarker for BC.