An angiogenesis-related lncRNA signature predicts the immune microenvironment and prognosis of breast cancer.

Abstract

Both angiogenesis and lncRNAs play crucial roles in the development and progression of breast cancer. Considering the unknown association of angiogenesis and lncRNAs in breast cancer, we aim to identify angiogenesis-related lncRNAs (ARLs) and explore their prognostic value. Here, based on analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the correlation between ARL and the prognosis and immune infiltration landscape of breast cancer were investigated. Eight ARLs (MAFG-DT, AC097478.1, AL357054.4, AL118556.1, SNHG10, MED14OS, OTUD6B-AS1, and CYTOR) were selected to construct the risk model as a prognostic signature. The survival rate of the patients in the high-risk group was lower than that in the low-risk group. The ARL signature was an independent prognostic predictor, and areas under the curve of 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.745, 0.695, and 0.699, respectively. The prognostic ARLs were associated with the immune infiltration landscape and could indicate the immune status, immune response, tumor mutational burden, and drug sensitivity of patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, qRT-PCR of clinical samples revealed that OTUD6B-AS1 was correlated with prognostic pathological parameters. OTUD6B-AS1 promoted breast cancer cell proliferation, wound healing, migration, invasion, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells tube formation. Mechanistically, OTUD6B-AS1 regulated EMT- and angiogenesis-related molecules. Taken together, we constructed and verified a robust signature of eight ARLs for the prediction of survival in patients with breast cancer, and the characterization of the immune infiltration landscape. Our findings suggest that OTUD6B-AS1 could be a therapeutic target for patients with breast cancer.