Long noncoding RNA LINC02432 inhibits papillary thyroid cancer via promoting ferroptosis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential in regulating the development and progression of different types of cancer. However, our insights into their impact and mechanisms in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still insufficient. In this study, we investigate the effects of the ferroptosis-associated long noncoding RNA LINC02432 on PTC, which recognizes ferroptosis as a critical mechanism in cancer biology and lncRNAs as significant factors in various malignancies. To identify lncRNAs associated with ferroptosis in PTC, we conduct bioinformatics analyses and perform functional assays to evaluate the biological impact of LINC02432 on PTC cells, as well as its relationship with ferroptosis. Mechanistic studies employ methods such as western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR. Our analysis of transcriptome data from TCGA reveals that LINC02432 is the only lncRNA consistently identified by all 10 machine learning methods used, and its expression is significantly downregulated in PTC. Overexpression of LINC02432 in PTC cells inhibits cell proliferation and migration while promoting ferroptosis through inactivation of the NRF2 pathway. <i>LINC02432</i> knockdown in PTC cells yields the opposite result. These findings highlight the potential of LINC02432 as a tumor suppressor in PTC progression, offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of this malignancy.