Exploration of the Role of m(6) A RNA Methylation Regulators in Malignant Progression and Clinical Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecologic malignancy worldwide and it is warranted to dissect the critical gene regulatory network in ovarian cancer. N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) RNA methylation, as the most prevalent RNA modification, is orchestrated by the m(6)A RNA methylation regulators and has been implicated in malignant progression of various cancers. In this study, we investigated the genetic landscape and expression profile of the m(6)A RNA methylation regulators in ovarian cancer and found that several m(6)A RNA methylation regulators were frequently amplified and up-regulated in ovarian cancer. Utilizing consensus cluster analysis, we stratified ovarian cancer samples into four clusters with distinct m(6)A methylation patterns and patients in these subgroups displayed the different clinical outcomes. Moreover, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to screen the key m(6)A regulators associated with the prognosis of ovarian cancer and the last absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was used to construct the gene signature for prognosis prediction. The survival analysis exhibited the risk-gene signature could be used as independent prognostic markers for ovarian cancer. In conclusion, m(6)A RNA methylation regulators are associated with the malignant progression of ovarian cancer and could be a potential in prognostic prediction for ovarian cancer.