Enhancer RNAs (
eRNAs) can serve as an independent prognostic factor for poor outcomes of
cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to identify a vital eRNA signature that has prognostic value for
thyroid cancer based on GTEx and TCGA screening. We downloaded gene expression data and clinical data of
thyroid cancer included in the GTEx and TCGA databases and conducted data consolidation. eRNA expression data were extracted, and subjected to differential analysis and cluster analysis. Univariate Cox regression was used to screen the prognostic factors of
thyroid cancer. Multivariate Cox regression was applied for prognostic risk assessment model construction, with the efficacy evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Downstream regulatory genes of candidate
eRNAs were determined using correlation analysis. There were 79 differentially expressed
eRNAs associated with
thyroid cancer. These differentially expressed
eRNAs could assign all
thyroid cancer samples into three molecular subtypes, which showed a strong link to
lymph node metastasis (N stage) of
thyroid cancer patients. Additionally, four key
eRNAs AC141930.1, NBDY, MEG3 and AP002358.1 closely related to the prognosis of
thyroid cancer patients. The risk model based on the four
eRNAs predicted the prognosis of
thyroid cancer patients effectively. TPO, MGST2, THBS2 and SLC25A47P1 were potential downstream regulators of the four
eRNAs involved in the development of
thyroid cancer. Collectively, our data suggest that a four-eRNA signature consisting of AC141930.1, NBDY, MEG3 and AP002358.1 can accurately predict the prognosis of
thyroid cancer patients.