Prognostic signature and tumor microenvironment infiltration based on amino acid metabolism-related genes and lncRNAs of colorectal cancer

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the digestive system. However, the role of amino acid metabolism-related LncRNAs in predicting CRC prognosis and influencing the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. Amino acid metabolism-related genes (AAMGs) were curated from MSigDB databases. Subsequently, RNA-seq data from TCGA-CRC underwent differential expression analysis. Univariate Cox regression analysis was employed to identify AAMGs associated with prognosis, while Pearson correlation analysis facilitated the identification of lncRNAs correlated with amino acid metabolism (AAMLs). Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment of the two risk groups was comprehensively examined utilizing the ESTIMATE and Cibersort algorithms. Additionally, the cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected with CCK8 and flow cytometer. LINC01354, LINC02257, AC083967.1, AC005342.2, and AC005050.3 expressions would be used for a prognostic model constructing for CRC, and the prognosis of high-risk group was significantly worse than that of low-risk. These lncRNAs are closely associated with macrophages and Th subset cells, indicating their potential role in the immune microenvironment. There were significant differences in the immune microenvironment between the two groups. In addition, LINC01354 siRNA or LINC02257 siRNA inhibits the proliferation and migration of HCT116 cells. LncRNAs associated with amino acid metabolism exhibit prognostic significance and possess the potential to predict the response to immunotherapy in CRC. This suggests a pivotal role for these lncRNAs in the progression of cancer.