Sialylation-immune-related lncRNA LINC01605 promotes tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell exhaustion and malignancy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background Dysregulated expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been shown to play a critical role in the tumorigenicity of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Meanwhile, sialylation plays a pivotal role in cancer progression and in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. However, how sialylation-immune-related lncRNAs (SIRLs) influence tumor immune microenvironment and progression of ccRCC remains unclear. Methods Using comprehensive cancer datasets, we identified key lncRNAs linked to both sialylation and immune modulation, constructing a prognostic risk model centered on the hub gene LINC01605 . Results Patients classified as high-risk showed significantly poor survival outcomes and poor response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy compared to low-risk individuals. Functional studies established LINC01605 ’s role in enhancing tumor aggressiveness and CD8 + T cell exhaustion. Knockdown of LINC01605 reduces total sialic acid levels in ccRCC cell membranes. Mechanistically, LINC01605 recruits IGF2BP2 to increase the stability of JAK3 mRNA. Elevated JAK3 expression activates JAK3/STAT3 signaling, and phosphorylated STAT3 subsequently upregulates oncogenes (e.g., MYC) as well as sialyltransferase ST6GALNAC5—which directly increases cell membrane sialylation, a known driver of immune evasion. Conclusions Our findings reveal the role of sialylation-immune-related lncRNAs in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and cancer progression in ccRCC, providing a new framework for predicting patient outcomes and therapeutic responses.