YTHDF2 exerts tumor-suppressor roles in gastric cancer via up-regulating PPP2CA independently of m(6)A modification

BACKGROUND: YTHDF2 is one of important readers of N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification on RNA. Growing evidence implicates that YTHDF2 takes an indispensable part in the regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis in different cancers, but its biological functions and underlying mechanisms remain elusive in gastric cancer (GC). AIM: To investigate the clinical relevance and biological function of YTHDF2 in GC. RESULTS: Compared with matched normal stomach tissues, YTHDF2 expression was markedly decreased in gastric cancer tissues. The expression level of YTHDF2 was inversely associated with gastric cancer patients’ tumor size, AJCC classification and prognosis. Functionally, YTHDF2 reduction facilitated gastric cancer cell growth and migration in vitro and in vivo, whereas YTHDF2 overexpression exhibited opposite phenotypes. Mechanistically, YTHDF2 enhanced expression of PPP2CA, the catalytic subunit of PP2A (Protein phosphatase 2A), in an m(6)A-independent manner, and silencing of PPP2CA antagonized the anti-tumor effects caused by overexpression of YTHDF2 in GC cells. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that YTHDF2 is down-regulated in GC and its down-regulation promotes GC progression via a possible mechanism involving PPP2CA expression, suggesting that YTHDF2 may be a hopeful biomarker for diagnosis and an unrevealed treatment target for GC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12575-023-00195-1.