LncRNA DUXAP8 as a prognostic biomarker for various cancers: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Dual homeoboxes A pseudogene 8 (<i>DUXAP8</i>) is a newly discovered long noncoding RNA that has been shown to function as an oncogene in a variety of human malignant cancers. By integrating available data, this meta-analysis sought to determine the relationship between clinical prognosis and <i>DUXAP8</i> expression levels in diverse malignancies. <b>Materials and methods:</b> A systematic search was performed to identify eligible studies from several electronic databases from their inception to 25 October 2021. Pooled odds ratios and hazard ratios with 95% CI were used to estimate the association between <i>DUXAP8</i> expression and survival. For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method and COX analysis were used. Furthermore, we utilized Spearman's correlation analysis to explore the correlation between <i>DUXAP8</i> and tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), the related genes of mismatch repair (MMR), DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), and immune checkpoint biomarkers. <b>Results:</b> Our findings indicated that overexpression of <i>DUXAP8</i> was related to poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.49-1.77, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, elevated <i>DUXAP8</i> expression was closely related to poor OS in several cancers in the TCGA database. Moreover, <i>DUXAP8</i> expression has been associated with TMB, MSI, and MMR in a variety of malignancies. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study revealed that <i>DUXAP8</i> might serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cancer. It can be used to improve cancer diagnosis, discover potential treatment targets, and improve prognosis.