To Develop and Validate the Combination of RNA Methylation Regulators for the Prognosis of Patients with Gastric Cancer

Onco Targets Ther. 2020 Oct 23:13:10785-10795. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S276239. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) accounts for high mortality. RNA methylation has recently gained interest as markers in specific tumors. This study aimed to uncover the function of the roles of 25 RNA methylation regulators in GC.

Methods: RNA sequence and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. "STRING" and R were performed to analyze the correlation among the methylase. COX and LASSO were performed to screen for prognostic associated RNA methylation regulators. A prognostic model was established based on the expression of methylase. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry detected the expression of methylase in GC cells and tissue. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox analysis were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the model.

Results: The prediction model was established based on the expression of m6A RNA methylation regulators FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated) and RBM15 (RNA binding motif protein 15). Based on the model, GC patients were divided into "high risk" and "low risk" groups to compare the differences in survival. The model was re-evaluated with the clinical data of our center.

Conclusion: The two-methylase combination model was an independent prognostic factor of GC.

Keywords: RNA methylation; gastric cancer; least absolute shrinkage and selection operator; prognosis; survival analysis.

Grants and funding

Cancer Research Program of National Cancer Center (NCC2017A14); Medical-Industrial Cross research Fund (LD202025, LD202027)