Identification of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer

Increasing evidences have demonstrated the ferroptosis-related lncRNAs are key regulators of non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and new targets for NSCLC therapy. However, the function of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in prognosis and immunotherapy of NSCLC still needs to be further explored. In this study, we identified the value of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in predicting the prognosis and the immunotherapy response in NSCLC patients by integrating anal- ysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. The most appropriate predictors associated with NSCLC prognosis and immunotherapy response, in- cluding LINC00304, LINC00968, LINC00312, LINC00853, LINC-PINT, SLC12A2-DT, DANCR, LINC00491 and LINC00310, were identified by differential expression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The Risk-Score prediction model was successfully established. Kaplan-Meier analysis, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis and independent data sets analysis demonstrated that the model has excellent predictive ability and robustness. Further, it was revealed that the Risk-Score model of nine ferroptosis- related lncRNAs are good at predicting immunotherapy response. In conclusion, a Risk-Score model of 9 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs can predict prognosis and immunotherapy response with NSCLC.