• LINC02432 is identified as a ferroptosis-associated lncRNA consistently downregulated in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) across multiple machine learning analyses.
• Overexpression of LINC02432 inhibits PTC cell proliferation and migration while promoting ferroptosis via inactivation of the NRF2 pathway.
• Knockdown of LINC02432 reverses these effects, confirming its tumor-suppressive role in PTC.
• These findings suggest LINC02432 as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for PTC, offering new insights into ferroptosis-based cancer therapy.