Zhang H, et al. - Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, researchers focused on the functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in colorectal cancer as well as on their clinical potential as biomarkers. The ceRNA network was constructed using 62 lncRNAs, 30 miRNAs, and 59 mRNAs identified from the downloaded RNA sequencing profiles of patients with colorectal cancer. Based on the 5 (H19, MIR31HG, HOTAIR, WT1-AS, and LINC00488) out of 62 lncRNAs, which were closely associated with the overall survival (OS), they developed a risk score. Poor survival rates were observed among patients with high-risk scores. Patient's survival chances could be better predicted by taking into account the risk score together with other clinicopathological features. The five-lncRNA model was validated in the GSE38832 dataset and could be considered candidate prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.