Some lncRNA-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) are considered as potential biomarkers for targeted therapies and prognosis in human cancer. In our present study, we aimed to construct a ceRNA network and establish a genomic-clinicopathologic nomogram to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms and predict survival for HBV-related HCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was applied to collect the data of LIHC RNA-seq dataset and miRNA-seq dataset as well as the clinicopathological information. Identification of differentially expressed RNAs (mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs) between HBV-related HCC samples and normal samples was conducted using Limma package in R. The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used for performing the functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs. The ceRNA network was carried out using Cytoscape. The LASSO-penalized Cox regression analysis was implemented to identify HCC-related lncRNAs, and the multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted for the establishment of a genomic-clinicopathology nomogram. A total of 1859 DEmRNAs, 113 DElncRNAs, and 89 DEmiRNAs were screened out etween HBV-related HCC samples and normal samples. A ceRNA network including 44 DEmRNAs, 7 DElncRNAs, and 20 DEmiRNAs was constructed. 7 DElncRNAs (PVT1, LINC01138, LINC02499, AL355488.2, FGF14-AS2, MAFG-AS1 and LINC00261) were finally identified as prognostic indicators. The area under the curve reached 0.8169 for the 7-lncRNA signature. The predictive accuracy and clinical application value were remarkably high for the genomic-clinicopathologic nomogram integrating the histological grade and the 7-gene-based prognostic index. Taken together, we have established a ceRNA network with HBV-related HCC-specific DElncRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and DEmRNAs. Furthermore, the genome-wide data of lncRNA expression were analyzed using the TCGA database, and a 7-lncRNA signature was identified as a potential prognostic predictor for HBV-related HCC patients. Novel functional studies were provided by our current findings for elucidating the molecular mechanism of lncRNA in HBV-related HCC.

一些与 lncRNA 相关的竞争性内源性 RNA (ceRNA) 被认为是人类癌症靶向治疗和预后的潜在生物标志物。在我们目前的研究中，我们旨在构建一个 ceRNA 网络并建立一个基因组临床病理学列线图，以提供对分子机制的见解并预测 HBV 相关 HCC 的存活率。癌症基因组图谱（TCGA）数据库用于收集 LIHC RNA-seq 数据集和 miRNA-seq 数据集的数据以及临床病理学信息。使用 R 中的 Limma 包对 HBV 相关 HCC 样本和正常样本之间的差异表达 RNA（mRNA、lncRNA 和 miRNA）进行鉴定。使用注释、可视化和集成发现数据库 (DAVID) 进行功能富集分析差异表达的mRNA。ceRNA 网络是使用 Cytoscape 进行的。实施 LASSO 惩罚 Cox 回归分析以识别 HCC 相关的 lncRNA，并进行多变量 Cox 回归分析以建立基因组临床病理学列线图。在HBV相关HCC样本和正常样本之间共筛选出1859个DEmRNA、113个DElncRNA和89个DEmiRNA。构建了一个包含 44 个 DEmRNA、7 个 DElncRNA 和 20 个 DEmiRNA 的 ceRNA 网络。最终确定了 7 个 DElncRNA（PVT1、LINC01138、LINC02499、AL355488.2、FGF14-AS2、MAFG-AS1 和 LINC00261）作为预后指标。7-lncRNA 特征曲线下面积达到 0.8169。整合组织学分级和基于 7 基因的预后指数的基因组临床病理学列线图的预测准确性和临床应用价值非常高。总之，我们已经建立了一个包含 HBV 相关的 HCC 特异性 DElncRNA、DEmiRNA 和 DEmRNA 的 ceRNA 网络。此外，使用 TCGA 数据库对 lncRNA 表达的全基因组数据进行了分析，发现 7-lncRNA 特征被确定为 HBV 相关 HCC 患者的潜在预后预测因子。我们目前的研究结果为阐明 lncRNA 在 HBV 相关 HCC 中的分子机制提供了新的功能研究。使用 TCGA 数据库分析了 lncRNA 表达的全基因组数据，发现 7-lncRNA 特征被确定为 HBV 相关 HCC 患者的潜在预后预测因子。我们目前的研究结果为阐明 lncRNA 在 HBV 相关 HCC 中的分子机制提供了新的功能研究。使用 TCGA 数据库分析了 lncRNA 表达的全基因组数据，发现 7-lncRNA 特征被确定为 HBV 相关 HCC 患者的潜在预后预测因子。我们目前的研究结果为阐明 lncRNA 在 HBV 相关 HCC 中的分子机制提供了新的功能研究。