The linkage of NF-κB signaling pathway-associated long non-coding RNAs with tumor microenvironment and prognosis in cervical cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background NF-κB signaling pathway participate closely in regulating inflammation and immune response in many cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with NF-κB signaling have not been characterized in cervical cancer. This study revealed the linkage between tumor microenvironment and NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs in cervical cancer. Materials and methods The expression profiles of cervical cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were downloaded. NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were screened as a basis to perform molecular subtyping. Immune cell infiltration was assessed by ESTIMATE, Microenvironment Cell Populations (MCP)-counter and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were identified by univariate analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and stepAIC. Results Three molecular subtypes or clusters (cluster 3, cluster 2, and cluster 1) were categorized based on 27 prognostic NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs. Cluster 2 had the worst prognosis, highest immune infiltration, as well as the highest expression of most of immune checkpoints. Three clusters showed different sensitivities to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Six key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were screened to establish a six-lncRNA risk model for predicting cervical cancer prognosis. Conclusions NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs played an important role in regulating immune microenvironment. The subtyping based on NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs may assist in the selection of optimal treatments. The six key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs could act as prognostic biomarkers in prognostic prediction for cervical cancer.