Identification of KEY lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Emerging studies showed long non-coding RNAs to play a key role in human cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of OSCC remained to be further explored. Objective: The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in OSCC. Methods: GSE30784 was analyzed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in OSCC. Protein-protein interaction network and co-expression network analyses were performed to reveal the potential roles of OSCC related mRNAs and lncRNAs. Results: In the present study, we identified 21 up-regulated lncRNAs and 54 down-regulated lncRNAs in OSCC progression. Next, we constructed a lncRNA related co-expression network in OSCC, which included 692 mRNAs and 2193 edges. Bioinformatics analysis showed that lncRNAs were widely co-expressed with regulating type I interferon signaling pathway, extracellular matrix organization, collagen catabolic process, immune response, ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. A key network, including lncRNA C5orf66-AS1, C21orf15, LOC100506098, PCBP1-AS1, LOC284825, OR7E14P, HCG22, and FLG-AS1, was found to be involved in the regulation of immune response to tumor cell, Golgi calcium ion transport, negative regulation of vitamin D receptor signaling pathway, and glycerol- 3-phosphate catabolic process. Moreover, we found higher expressions of CYP4F29P, PCBP1- AS1, HCG22, and C5orf66-AS1, which were associated with shorter overall survival time in OSCC samples. Conclusions: Our analysis can provide novel insights to explore the potential mechanisms underlying OSCC progression.