The methylation modification of m6A regulators contributes to the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulation is a common type of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) modification, and has been proven to contribute to the malignant behavior of tumors. However, the expression pattern and the prognostic role of m6A RNA methylation regulators in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear.

Methods: We downloaded the data of 422 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The relationship between the expression level of m6A RNA methylation regulators and clinicopathological variables in HNSCC was analyzed by R language.

Results: The m6A gene alteration was significantly correlated with tumor grade and tumor stage. Next, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model was used to identify three m6A RNA methylation regulators [i.e., methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins C1/C2 (HNRNPC)] to construct a risk signature. Based on the risk signature, the patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups. The overall survival (OS) rate of the low-risk group was significantly higher than that of the high-risk group. Additionally, the risk panel was an independent prognostic marker in HNSCC patients.

Conclusions: The m6A RNA methylation regulators are involved in HNSCC cancer progression. Further and more importantly, the risk signature comprising the three selected m6A RNA methylation regulators could serve as a potential marker to predict HNSCC patient outcomes.