Comprehensive analysis of the lncRNAs-related immune gene signatures and their correlation with immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)-related immune genes (lrRIGs) play a crucial role in the development and progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, reliable prognostic signatures based on lrRIGs have not yet been identified. METHODS: We screened lrRIGs associated with the prognosis of LUAD using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and then established a novel prognostic nine-gene signature composed of CD79A, INHA, SHC3, LIFR, TNFRSF11A, GPI, F2RL1, SEMA7A and WFDC2 through bioinformatic approaches. A risk score derived from this gene signature was used to divide LUAD patients into the low- and high-risk groups. The latter was confirmed to have markedly worse overall survival (O.S.). A nomogram was developed using the risk score and other independent prognostic elements, demonstrating excellent performance in predicting the O.S. rate of LUAD patients. RESULTS: We observed that the infiltration of diverse immune cell subtypes and response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy significantly differed between the low- and high-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, stratification based on this gene signature could be used to guide better therapeutic management and improve outcomes for LUAD patients.