Coexpression network analysis identified lncRNAs-mRNAs with potential relevance in African ancestry prostate cancer

Aim: This study aims to investigate similarities and differences using lncRNA and mRNA coexpression network analysis in African ancestry (AA) and European ancestry (EA) among prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Methods: We performed weighted gene coexpression network analysis of the expression from 49 of AA and 49 of EA to identify lncRNAs-mRNAs. Results: 27 lncRNAs and 36 mRNAs were highly expressed in patients of AA. Two mRNAs and their antisense lncRNAs were expressed. Additionally, seven mRNAs were DE or coexpressed and had an impact on survival. Conclusion: We present a list of lncRNAs and mRNAs that were DE and coexpressed when comparing patients of AA and EA, and these data are a resource for future studies to understand the role of lncRNAs. Lay abstract This research demonstrated differences among AA and EA PCa patients. 27 lncRNAs and 36 mRNAs were highly expressed in patients of AA. 24 mRNAs were coexpressed with at least one lncRNAs. Seven mRNAs (CENPN, DNAAF3, DNASE1L2, PCDHB2, PCSK6, RTN4RL2, THBS4) were upregulated, respectively. In addition, the pathway enrichment analysis revealed two interesting signaling pathways (MAPK and Wnt) that are involved in oncogenesis and are exclusively involved in patients of AA. In summary, this study provides a resource for future investigation of the role of lncRNAs and coexpressed genes in patients of AA and EA.