The Role of N6-Methyladenosine-Associated lncRNAs in the Immune Microenvironment and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: The role of N6-methyladenosine long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is elusive. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified m6A-associated lncRNAs by using the data gathered from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and stratified CRC patients into different subgroups. Cox regression analysis was performed to construct an m6A-associated lncRNA signature. The role of this signature in the immune microenvironment and prognosis was dissected subsequently. Finally, a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to predict the possible mechanisms based on the signature. RESULTS: Three m6A-associated clusters were constructed from 866 differentially expressed lncRNAs. Cluster 2 had poor prognosis and low immune cell infiltration. An m6A-associated lncRNA signature consisting of 14 lncRNAs was constructed and recognized as an independent prognostic indicator of CRC by using survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The clinical features and immune cell infiltration status were significantly different in patients stratified by the risk score. Furthermore, GSEA showed that the P53 pathway and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity were more enriched in the low-risk group. CONCLUSION: Our data revealed that m6A-associated lncRNAs could be potential prognostic indicators of immunogenicity in CRC.