Identification of M6A Methyltransferase-related Genes Predicts Prognosis and Immune Infiltrates in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Overview

Journal Ann Transl Med

Publisher AME Publishing Company

Date 2021 Nov 18

PMID 34790760

Citations 10

Authors

Yijian Zhang

Li Li

Zhihui Ye

Lei Zhang

Ninghua Yao

Ling Gai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for 90% of head and neck malignant tumors. As the early symptoms of HNSCC are not obvious, and it is prone to recurrence and metastasis, making the overall survival (OS) rate of patients very low. Existing studies have shown m6A methylation plays a crucial role in various cancers, but it is rarely studied in HNSCC. This study aimed to explore the expression of m6A methylation-related genes in HNSCC and its correlation with prognosis, and to explore its relationship with immune infiltration.

Methods: The gene expression data of HNSCC patient tumor samples (tumor =510) and adjacent normal tissue samples (normal =50) were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the expression characteristics of m6A regulatory factors were described. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the relationship between m6A regulatory factors and OS and disease-specific survival (DSS). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to construct the m6A regulatory factor-HNSCC risk prediction model. In addition, the relationship between m6A methylation-related genes and tumor immune infiltration were discussed.

Results: The differential expression of 20 genes were identified by TCGA, and 18 genes (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and ) were overexpressed in HNSCC. The survival rate of different gene expression levels was different. The high expression of and indicated better OS. Furthermore, for DSS, increased expression of was also correlated with better clinical outcomes (P<0.05). At the same time, we drew a 3-gene risk score model in the TCGA-HNSCC cohort, and the survival curve showed compared with low-risk patients, high-risk patients had significantly worse OS (P<0.05). Gene enrichment analysis showed EPITHELIAL_MESENCHYMAL_TRANSITIO, MTORC1_SIGNALING, MYC_TARGETS_V1, MYC_TARGETS_V2, MYOGENESIS pathways, high TP53 mutations, and suppressive immunity were related to the high-risk group. The low-risk group was related to ALLOGRAFT_REJECTION, COMPLEMENT, IL6_JAK_STAT3_SIGNALING, INTERFERON_ALPHA_RESPONSE, INTERFERON_GAMMA_RESPONSE pathways, low TP53 mutations, and active immunity.

Conclusions: The m6A methyltransferase-related genes can predict the prognosis of HNSCC and are related to immune infiltration.

Citing Articles

Identification of m6A methyltransferase-related WTAP and ZC3H13 predicts immune infiltrates in glioblastoma.

Gao L, Gao J, He J, Fan W, Che X, Wang X Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):4412.

PMID: 39910141 PMC: 11799344. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88671-4.

N6-methyladenosine RNA modification in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): current status and future insights.

Janakiraman P, Jayaprakash J, Muralidharan S, Narayan K, Khandelia P Med Oncol. 2024; 42(1):12.

PMID: 39580759 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02566-4.

Targeting RNA N6-methyladenosine modification-- a novel therapeutic target for HER2- positive gastric cancer.

Jia L, Zhang D, Zeng X, Wu L, Tian X, Xing N Front Oncol. 2024; 14:1387444.

PMID: 38966068 PMC: 11222400. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1387444.

The effect of matrices on the gene expression profile of patient-derived head and neck carcinoma cells for in vitro therapy testing.

Hyytiainen A, Korelin K, Toriseva M, Wilkman T, Kainulainen S, Mesimaki K Cancer Cell Int. 2023; 23(1):147.

PMID: 37488620 PMC: 10367262. DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02982-y.

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in HNSCC: molecular mechanism and therapeutic potential.

Sun X, Fu S, Yuan X, Pu X, Wang R, Wang X Cancer Gene Ther. 2023; 30(9):1209-1214.

PMID: 37221404 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00628-9.

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