TARGET based m6A methylation-related genes predict prognosis relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the significance of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylationrelated genes in the clinical prognosis of childhood relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALLL) patient. Transcriptome data and corresponding clinical data on m6A methylation-related genes (including 20 genes) were obtained from the Therapeutically Applicable Research To Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database. The bone marrow (BM) samples of 134 newly diagnosed (naive) and 116 relapsed B-ALL from TARGET were enrolled in the current study. Three genes (FTO, HNRNPC, RBM15B) showed significant up-regulation in relapsed B-ALL compared with that in naive B-ALL.The three genes had a significantly worse survival (P < 0.05). The LASSO Cox regression model was used to select the most predictive genes as prognostic indicators, and YTHDC1 and FTO were identified as prognostic factors for relapsed B-ALL. Finally, the results of multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk score of m6A methylation-related genes was an independent prognostic factor in relapsed B-ALL (P < 0.05). We found that the expression levels of m6A methylation-related genes were different in naive and relapsed patients with B-ALL and correlated with survival and prognosis.This implies that m6A methylation-related genes may be promising prognostic indicators or therapeutic targets for relapsed B-ALL.