Identification of enhancer RNAs for the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) play an important role in carcinogenesis. The landscape of eRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains largely unknown. Methods The eRNA expression matrix was obtained from the enhancer RNA in the cancer database. Functional enrichment analyses were performed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Prognostic eRNAs were identified using Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic prediction model was constructed based on coefficients. Results KEGG analysis showed that eRNA‐related transcription factors were mainly enriched in herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) infection. The zinc finger (ZNF) family may play an essential role in HNSCC. ENSR00000188847, ENSR00000250663, ENSR00000313345, ENSR00000317887, and ENSR00000336429 were identified. The prediction model was robust. Conclusions We constructed a robust 5‐eRNA prognostic prediction model, and these eRNAs are potential biomarkers for HNSCC prognosis.