The first such publication or Such first publication?

Please look at the following sentence.

"..............., the first such publication to target ethnic groups"

Is "first" an adverb?
If it's an adjective, can't I rewrite as "such first publication"?
What is an identity of "the first"? an adverb or a noun?
Can't I write as "the first of such publication"?

Thank you for your answer in advance.