Expression and Prognostic Characteristics of m6A RNA Methylation Regulators in Colon Cancer

Abstract

Colon cancer is a common and leading cause of death and malignancy worldwide. N6-methylation of adenosine (m6A) is the most common reversible mRNA modification in eukaryotes, and it plays a crucial role in various biological functions in vivo. Dysregulated expression and genetic changes of m6A regulators have been correlated with tumorigenesis, cancer cell proliferation, tumor microenvironment, and prognosis in cancers. This study used RNA-seq and colon cancer clinical data to explore the relationship between N6-methylation and colon cancer. Based on the seven m6A regulators related to prognosis, three molecular subgroups of colon cancer were identified. Surprisingly, we found that each subgroup had unique survival characteristics. We then identified three subtypes of tumors based on 299 m6A phenotype-related genes, and one subtype was characterized as an immunosuppressive tumor and patients in this subtype may be more suitable for immunotherapy than other subtypes. Finally, using m6A-related genes and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort, we constructed a prognosis model, and this model could be used to predict the prognosis of patients in clinics.