Identification of the Prognostic LncRNA Biomarkers and Comprehensive Analysis of LncRNA-Mediated ceRNA Network for Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma

Abstract

Background Given that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in the tumor initiation or progression of the endometrium and that competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) plays an important role in increasingly more biological processes, lncRNA-mediated ceRNA is likely to function in the pathogenesis of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). Our present study aimed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms for the prognosis of UCEC through an lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network. Methods The transcriptome profiles and corresponding clinical profiles of UCEC dataset were retrieved from CPTAC and TCGA databases respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in UCEC samples were identified via “Edge R” package. Then, an integrated bioinformatics analysis including functional enrichment analysis, tumor infiltrating immune cell(TIIC) analysis, Kaplan-Meier curve, Cox regression analysis were conducted to analyze the prognostic biomarkers. Results In the CPTAC dataset of UCEC, a ceRNA network comprised of 36 miRNAs, 123 lncRNAs and 124 targeted mRNAs was established, and 8 of 123 prognostic-related DElncRNAs(Differentially Expressed long noncoding RNA) were identified. While in the TCGA dataset, a ceRNA network comprised of 38 miRNAs, 83 lncRNAs and 110 targeted mRNAs was established, and 2 of 83 prognostic-related DElncRNAs were identified. After filtered by risk grouping and Cox regression analysis, 10 prognostic-related lncRNAs including LINC00443, LINC00483, C2orf48, TRBV11-2, MEG-8 were identified. In addition, 33 survival-related DEmRNAs(Differentially Expressed messager RNA) in two ceRNA networks were further validated in the HPA database. Finally, six lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axes were established to elucidate prognostic regulatory roles in UCEC. Conclusion Several prognostic lncRNAs are identified and prognostic model of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network is constructed, which promotes the understanding of UCEC development mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.