LINC01770 mediates nasopharyngeal cancer radiation resistance and renders tumor cell vulnerable to ferroptosis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in regulation of various essential biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. However, the clinical significances of lncRNAs and their functions and mechanisms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) involved in malignant progression need to be further investigated. We find that the LINC01770-TEAD1 signal axis leads to radiotherapy resistance of NPC and causes NPC cells to be in a fragile oxidative stress equilibrium. Meanwhile radioresistant cells are more sensitive to ferroptosis inducers. LINC01770 stabilizes TEAD1 by competitive binding with microRNA 615-5p and microRNA -1293. Radiation resistant cell is in a delicate balance of lipid peroxidation and more vulnerable to ferroptosis. In conclusion, our research suggest that LINC01770 serves as an independent prognostic factor in NPC. During the malignant progression of NPC caused by high expression of LINC01770, ferroptosis can be induced to effectively kill cancer cells and reverse RT resistance of NPC cells, providing evidence for the clinical application of ferroptosis in the treatment of recurrent and refractory NPC.