Radiosensitization-Related Cuproptosis LncRNA Signature in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A new treatment modality targeting cuproptosis is gradually entering the public horizon. Cuproptosis is a new form of regulated cell death distinct from ferroptosis, apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis. Previous studies have discovered that the copper level varies considerably in various cancers and that an increase in copper content is directly associated with the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radiation, the potential utility of cuproptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still unclear. This research aimed to develop a prediction signature based on lncRNAs associated with cuproptosis to predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients following radiation. Methods: Expression data of primary tumors and adjacent solid tissues were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, along with the corresponding clinical and mutational data. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses and LASSO regression analyses were performed to obtain a predictive signature of lncRNAs associated with cuproptosis. The data were randomly grouped into a training group used for model construction and a test group used for model validation. The model was validated by drawing a survival curve, risk curve, independent prognostic analysis, ROC curve PFS analysis, etc. Results: The lncRNA signature consisting of six cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (AC104088.1, PPP4R3B-DT, AC006042.3, LUCAT1, HHLA3-AS1, and LINC02029) was used to predict the prognosis of patients. Among them, there were three high-risk lncRNAs (LUCAT1, HHLA3-AS1, and LINC02029) with HR > 1 and three protective lncRNAs (AC104088.1, PPP4R3B-DT, and AC006042.3), with an HR < 1. Data analysis demonstrated that the cuproptosis-related lncRNA signatures could well predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients after radiation. Patients in the high-risk category receive a worse prognosis than those in the low-risk group. Cuproptosis-related risk prediction demonstrated better predictive qualities than age, gender, and pathological stage factors. Conclusion: The risk proposed model can independently predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients after radiotherapy, provide a foundation for the role of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs in NSCLC after radiotherapy, and provide a clinical strategy for radiotherapy combined with cuproptosis in NSCLC patients.