Novel three-lncRNA signature predicts survival in patients with pancreatic cancer

A growing body of evidence confirms that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have an important role in biological processes by regulating gene expression at multiple levels. Dysregulated lncRNAs may be potential prognostic biomarkers or targets for the development of cancer treatments. However, the prognostic role of an lncRNA signature in pancreatic cancer has not been investigated. Pancreatic cancer lncRNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed in the current study. The prognostic value of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) was evaluated via the Kaplan-Meier method. A risk score model was established based on the potential prognostic lncRNAs. The biological functions of lncRNAs were predicted by functional enrichment analysis. Then, an lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was established and predicted the function of the lncRNAs. Seven DElncRNAs that were significantly associated with the prognosis of pancreatic cancer were identified. Patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups using a risk score based on a three-lncRNA signature. There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the groups (median OS 1.33 vs. 3.65 years; log-rank test, P=0.0000). Cox regression analysis and ROC curves demonstrated that the three-lncRNA signature may be an effective independent prognostic biomarker in patients with pancreatic. The functional enrichment analysis showed that lncRNA AL137789.1, one component of the three-lncRNA signature, may be associated with tumor immune responses. In the present study, a novel three-lncRNA signature that was established that may be useful in predicting survival among patients with pancreatic cancer. These lncRNAs may be involved in tumor immunity and thus affect the prognosis of patients.