Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide, with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) accounting for the majority of cases. Cuproptosis, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have been demonstrated to be associated with tumorigenesis. The objective of the present study was to develop a novel cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature to assess the association between cuproptosis and TIME in patients with LUAD or LUSC and to predict prognosis. Based on the outputs of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model, a cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature was developed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to confirm the predictive ability of the signature. Univariate and multivariate analysis was also performed to determine the association between overall survival and this signature and other clinical characteristics, and a nomogram was created. Additionally, the relationship between the signature, TIME, tumor mutation burden and m6A methylation was established. The results of the present study revealed that 8 cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were associated with the prognosis of patients with LUAD and LUSC. This novel cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature is associated with TIME and m6A methylation in LUAD and LUSC and can predict prognosis with accuracy.