Identification and verification of an immune-related lncRNA signature for predicting the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer

Background: Recent studies have revealed the significant roles of immune-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development and progression. The identification of biomarkers that contribute to early detection and risk stratification provides significant benefits for bladder cancer (BC) patients. The current study aimed to determine an immune-related lncRNA signature for predicting the prognosis of BC patients. Methods: Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we identified seven immune-related lncRNAs with prognostic value. The predictive value of the prognostic signature developed from immune-related lncRNAs was assessed by survival and nomogram analyses. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to visualize gene expression patterns in the groups defined by the risk score, and the immune composition and purity of the tumor were evaluated by the ESTIMATE algorithm. Results: Based on the Pearson correlation analysis results, 765 immune-related lncRNAs were filtered (vertical bar R vertical bar 0.4, P < 0.001), and seven immune-related lncRNAs (Z84484.1, AC009120.2, AL450384.2, AC024060.1, TNFRSF14AS1, AL354919.2, OCIAD1-AS1) with prognostic value were finally identified. Patients in the low-risk group had a better prognosis than those in the high-risk group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the signature was an independent prognostic factor. A prognostic nomogram with clinical features and the signature of seven immune-related lncRNAs was also constructed. According to the PCA and ESTIMATE algorithm results, we found different immune statuses in the low-and high-risk groups. Conclusions: Our study shows that the signature of seven immune-related lncRNAs can be used as a prognostic marker for BC.

Automated summary

Recent study identified seven immune-related lncRNAs with prognostic value for bladder cancer (BC) patients through TCGA database, and constructed a signature for predicting prognosis. The signature was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor and showed different immune statuses between low- and high-risk groups. This study suggests that the identified lncRNA signature can serve as a prognostic marker for BC.