Identification and validation of a novel 2-lncrnas signature associated with m6a regulation in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumors in the digestive system, and it is urgent to identify a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant mRNA modification and is almost involved in every aspect of physiological processes. In this study, we constructed a novel m6A-related 2-lncRNAs signature that can predict the prognosis of CRC. We obtained m6A-related lncRNAs and identified prognostic lncRNAs through univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, then constructed a prognostic model based on the risk score, and we also verified the stability of the model. In addition, differential expression analysis between the high- and low-risk subgroups was performed. A total of 1,894 m6A-related lncRNAs were screened from various sources. Using univariate Cox regression analysis and survival analysis, two lncRNAs (AL135999.1 and AL049840.4) were identified (P < 0.05), and the coefficients of lncRNAs were calculated by LASSO. The high-risk group had worse clinical outcomes and overall survival (OS) than the low-risk group, and the risk score can serve as an independent prognostic factor in CRC. In addition, different stages of CRC also showed a different level of risk score. Finally, we found that two lncRNAs were differentially expressed (P < 0.01) in CRC patients, and AL135999.1 may be relevant to m6A modification mediated by methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in CRC. In summary, we constructed a reliable 2-lncRNAs signature based on the risk score, and we identified two m6A-related prognostic lncRNAs, AL135999.1 and AL049840.4. The novel 2-lncRNAs signature plays an essential role in predicting the prognosis of CRC.