LncRNA expression signature correlated with cuproptosis: prognostic implications and insights into immune...

Ovarian cancer (OC) presents a formidable challenge in terms of early detection due to its subtle symptoms, often leading to diagnosis at advanced stages of the disease. Despite therapeutic advancements, survival rates exhibit limited improvement. This study delves into long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with cuproptosis, aiming to anticipate the prognosis of OC and assess its immune status. The findings of this study provide a framework for enhancing the treatment of OC. RNA-seq and clinicopathological data of 379 TCGA-OC samples were retrieved from UCSC Xena. After extracting mRNAs/lncRNAs and screening CRLs via Pearson's analysis, a prognostic model was built and validated. Subgroup, PCA, GO/KEGG, immune infiltration, TMB, and drug sensitivity analyzes were conducted for evaluation. A prognostic ensemble, consisting of eight lncRNAs namely AC104820.2, EPB41L4A-AS1, LINC00996, RP11-110I1.6, RP11-367G6.3, RP11-443B7.3, RP11-4O1.2, and RP11-76E17.3, was effectively formulated. Independent prognostic factors for OC were identified through Cox analysis, with age and risk score emerging as noteworthy contributors. The prognostic signature demonstrated robust efficacy in the anticipation of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates. Notably, individuals with low-risk OC manifested distinctive tumor immune microenvironments and exhibited an elevated tumor mutational burden. Furthermore, this low-risk cohort displayed heightened responsiveness to diverse therapeutic agents in comparison to their high-risk counterparts. Collectively, the comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs serves a dual purpose in prognostication and elucidation of the immune microenvironment and therapeutic responsiveness in OC.