Long Non-Coding RNAs Suppressed Cell Cycle in Lung Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to be related to different cancers and play important roles in regulating the pathological and physiological processes of numerous cancers. The aim of the current study was to identify potential prognostic long non-coding RNA biomarkers for predicting survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. METHODS: The clinical pathology and gene expression profiles of lung cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified and patient survival analysis performed. The prognostic signature was further evaluated by functional assessment and bioinformatics analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to predict the function of lncRNAs and to construct a gene co-expression network relationship to predict downstream target genes with the aid of the STRING database and Cytoscape software RESULTS: lncRNA RP11-434D9.1 and FENDRR had lower expression levels in lung cancer and were associated with poor prognoses. We found that the major functions of lncRNA RP1-434D9.1 and FENDRR were related to the cell cycle, and we further screened out the possible downstream target genes CDK1, CCNB1, CCNB2, CCNA1, AURKA, PLK1. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA RP11-434D9.1 and FENDRR can be used as molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. These dysregulated lncRNAs might negatively regulate cell cycle through the hub genes, which then affected cancer cell proliferation. These results may provide new ideas for further clinical research for markers used for lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis. FUNDING STATEMENT: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81672270); Key project of Guangzhou Science Technology and Innovation Committee (201707020042); Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (201803010024); Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China (2017B020226005); Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (201903010003). Clinical Research Startup Program of Southern Medical University by High-level University Construction Funding of Guangdong Provincial Department of Education (LC2016PY013); Scientific Research Projects of Wu Jieping Medical Research Foundation (320.6750.17206). DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: The authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist. ETHICS APPROVAL STATEMENT: Every specimen was anonymously handled based on ethical standards. All participants provided signed informed consent and our study had full approval from the hospital’s Ethical Review Committee.