Integrated Analysis of the m6A-Related lncRNA Identified lncRNA ABALON/miR-139-3p/ Axis Was Involved in the Occurrence of Lung Cancer.

Background: Lung cancer has the characteristics of early metastasis, high recurrence, and high mortality rate despite emerging advances in diagnostic. Early diagnosis can significantly improve the patient's chances of cure and survival.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify and assess a prognostic lncRNA/miRNA/gene signature in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: Pearson correlation analysis, univariate Cox analysis and LASSO Cox analysis were used to construct a lung cancer prognostic risk model based on m6A-related lncRNA. The interaction between lncRNA-miRNA-gene was verified by luciferase reporter gene experiment.

Results: The Pearson correlation analysis determined that 1655 lncRNAs significantly correlated with the expression of m6A genes. A lung cancer prognostic risk model, including 14 m6A-related lncRNAs, was constructed through univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analysis. ABALON was identified as the key lncRNA through cluster analysis and gene expression difference analysis.

Conclusion: It was experimentally verified that ABALON acted as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging miR-139-3p and indirectly regulated the expression of NOB1. This study provided a new biological target for the early diagnosis of lung cancer and a new direction for studying the mechanism of lung cancer.