Prognostic Model Construction and Immune Microenvironment Analysis of Breast Cancer Based on Ferroptosis-Related lncRNAs

PURPOSE: To construct a prognostic model of breast cancer using ferroptosis-related lncRNAs and explore novel therapeutic targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prognostic characteristic model based on differential expression of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in breast cancer was established based on TCGA data. RESULTS: Eleven ferroptosis-related lncRNAs associated with breast cancer prognosis were identified. Kaplan–Meier analysis suggested that high-risk lncRNA signatures correspond to a poor prognosis. The AUC of the signature lncRNAs was 0.682, demonstrating that it is accurate in predicting BC prognosis. GSEA showed that ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in high-risk individuals are mainly enriched in cell cycle, cell adhesion and tumor pathways. Immunity and gene expression analysis revealed that APC co-inhibition, check-point, HLA, inflammation-promoting and T cell co-stimulation among others were significantly different between the high-and low-risk group. Three immune checkpoints were highly expressed in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: Ferroptosis-related lncRNAs can be used as a prognostic feature to construct a prognostic model of breast cancer, based on which early detection markers, therapeutic targets and anti-tumor immune microenvironment can be studied, and clinical treatment can also be instructive.