RNA m6A methylation regulators in ovarian cancer

Jialu Guo,Jianfeng Zheng,Jinyi Tong,Huizhi Zhang

doi:10.1186/s12935-021-02318-8

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification of mammalian mRNAs and plays a vital role in many diseases, especially tumours. In recent years, m6A has become the topic of intense discussion in epigenetics. M6A modification is dynamically regulated by methyltransferases, demethylases and RNA-binding proteins. Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common but highly fatal malignancy in female. Increasing evidence shows that changes in m6A levels and the dysregulation of m6A regulators are associated with the occurrence, development or prognosis of OC. In this review, the latest studies on m6A and its regulators in OC have been summarized, and we focus on the key role of m6A modification in the development and progression of OC. Additionally, we also discuss the potential use of m6A modification and its regulators in the diagnosis and treatment of OC.

Highlights

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the three major malignant tumours in gynecology, with the third highest incidence, followed by cervical cancer and endometrial cancer
In terms of the prognosis of OC patients, the analysis found that the high expression levels of Wilm’s tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) were markedly related to the worst overall survival (OS), and the m6A regulators expression levels, including fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), Alk B homolog 5 (ALKBH5), and YT521-B homology (YTH) domain family were associated with the prognosis of OC [60]
Cancer is a threat to public health, and both developed and developing countries are very concerned about the high mortality rate of this disease

Summary

Introduction

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the three major malignant tumours in gynecology, with the third highest incidence, followed by cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. It was found that YTHDF1 regulates the translation of eIF3C via an m6A-dependent way, affects the global protein translation in OC, enhancing protein synthesis and promoting the tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer cells [63].

Results

Conclusion