CD24-associated ceRNA network reveals prognostic biomarkers in breast carcinoma

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types which is described as the leading cause of cancer death in women. After competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis was proposed, this triple regulatory network has been observed in various cancers, and increasing evidences reveal that ceRNA network plays a significant role in the migration, invasion, proliferation of cancer cells. In the current study, our target is to construct a CD24-associated ceRNA network, and to further identify key prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer. Using the transcriptom profiles from TCGA database, we performed a comprehensive analysis between CD24^high tumor samples and CD24^low tumor samples, and identified 132 DElncRNAs, 602 DEmRNAs and 26 DEmiRNAs. Through comprehensive analysis, RP1-228H13.5/miR-135a-5p/BEND3 and SIM2 were identified as key CD24-associated biomarkers, which exhibited highly significance with overall survival, immune microenvironment as well as clinical features. To sum up the above, the current study constructed a CD24-associated ceRNA network, and RP1-228H13.5/miR-135a-5p/BEND3 and SIM2 axis worked as a potential therapeutic target and a predictor for BRCA diagnosis and prognosis.