A Novel IMP1 Inhibitor, BTYNB, Targets c-Myc and Inhibits Melanoma and Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

Targeting IGF2BP1 alleviated benzene hematotoxicity by reprogramming BCAA metabolism and fatty acid oxidation

Benzene is the main environmental pollutant and risk factor of childhood leukemia and chronic benzene poisoning. Benzene exposure leads to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) dysfunction and abnormal blood cell counts. However, the key regulatory targets and mechanisms of benzene hematotoxicity are unclear. In this study, we constructed a benzene-induced hematopoietic damage mouse model to explore the underlying mechanisms. We identified that Insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) was significantly reduced in benzene-exposed mice. Moreover, targeting IGF2BP1 effectively mitigated damages to hematopoietic function and hematopoietic molecule expression caused by benzene in mice. On the mechanics, by metabolomics and transcriptomics, we discovered that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism and fatty acid oxidation were key metabolic pathways, and Branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1A) were critical metabolic enzymes involved in IGF2BP1-mediated hematopoietic injury process. The expression of the above molecules in the benzene exposure population was also examined and consistent with animal experiments. In conclusion, targeting IGF2BP1 alleviated hematopoietic injury caused by benzene exposure, possibly due to the reprogramming of BCAA metabolism and fatty acid oxidation via BCAT1 and CPT1A metabolic enzymes. IGF2BP1 is a potential regulatory and therapeutic target for benzene hematotoxicity.

Readers of RNA Modification in Cancer and Their Anticancer Inhibitors

Cancer treatment has always been a challenge for humanity. The inadequacies of current technologies underscore the limitations of our efforts against this disease. Nevertheless, the advent of targeted therapy has introduced a promising avenue, furnishing us with more efficacious tools. Consequently, researchers have turned their attention toward epigenetics, offering a novel perspective in this realm. The investigation of epigenetics has brought RNA readers to the forefront, as they play pivotal roles in recognizing and regulating RNA functions. Recently, the development of inhibitors targeting these RNA readers has emerged as a focal point in research and holds promise for further strides in targeted therapy. In this review, we comprehensively summarize various types of inhibitors targeting RNA readers, including non-coding RNA (ncRNA) inhibitors, small-molecule inhibitors, and other potential inhibitors. We systematically elucidate their mechanisms in suppressing cancer progression by inhibiting readers, aiming to present inhibitors of readers at the current stage and provide more insights into the development of anticancer drugs.

Progression of m6A in the tumor microenvironment: hypoxia, immune and metabolic reprogramming

Recently, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has aroused widespread discussion in the scientific community as a mode of RNA modification. m6A comprises writers, erasers, and readers, which regulates RNA production, nuclear export, and translation and is very important for human health. A large number of studies have found that the regulation of m6A is closely related to the occurrence and invasion of tumors, while the homeostasis and function of the tumor microenvironment (TME) determine the occurrence and development of tumors to some extent. TME is composed of a variety of immune cells (T cells, B cells, etc.) and nonimmune cells (tumor-associated mesenchymal stem cells (TA-MSCs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), etc.). Current studies suggest that m6A is involved in regulating the function of various cells in the TME, thereby affecting tumor progression. In this manuscript, we present the composition of m6A and TME, the relationship between m6A methylation and characteristic changes in TME, the role of m6A methylation in TME, and potential therapeutic strategies to provide new perspectives for better treatment of tumors in clinical work.

Insights into the role of RNA m6A modification in the metabolic process and related diseases

According to the latest consensus, many traditional diseases are considered metabolic diseases, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Currently, metabolic diseases are increasingly prevalent because of the ever-improving living standards and have become the leading threat to human health. Multiple therapy methods have been applied to treat these diseases, which improves the quality of life of many patients, but the overall effect is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, intensive research on the metabolic process and the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases is imperative. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an important modification of eukaryotic RNAs. It is a critical regulator of gene expression that is involved in different cellular functions and physiological processes. Many studies have indicated that m6A modification regulates the development of many metabolic processes and metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarized recent studies on the role of m6A modification in different metabolic processes and metabolic diseases. Additionally, we highlighted the potential m6A-targeted therapy for metabolic diseases, expecting to facilitate m6A-targeted strategies in the treatment of metabolic diseases.

The N6-methyladenosine methylation landscape stratifies breast cancer into two subtypes with distinct immunological characteristics

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation modification affects the tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer (BC). This study investigated the association between m6A regulator-mediated methylation modification patterns and characterization of the tumour microenvironment in BC, as well as their prognostic importance. Public gene expression data and clinical annotations were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the Gene Expression Omnibus website and the METABRIC program. We analysed the genetic expression, gene-gene interactions, gene mutations and copy number variations using R software. The data were screened for risk genes using the Cox risk regression model, and we developed an algorithm for risk score and its predictive value. Compared to adjacent normal tissue, we identified 16 differentially expressed m6A regulators in BC, including six writers and 10 readers. Under unsupervised clustering, two distinguished modification patterns were identified, cluster C1 and C2. Compared to m6A cluster C2, cluster C1 was found to be more involved in immune-related pathways, with a relatively higher immune score and stromal score (P < 0.05). Patients were divided into two groups based on their risk scores for survival analysis. The patients in the high-risk score group had significantly worse overall survival than patients in the low-risk score group, (P < 0.0001). The TCGA database validation revealed the same prognostic tendency. In summary, our study showed distinct m6A regulator modification patterns contribute to the immunological heterogeneity and diversity of BC. The development of m6A gene signatures and the m6A score aid in the prognostic prediction of patients with BC.

Methylation modifications in tRNA and associated disorders: Current research and potential therapeutic targets

High-throughput sequencing has sparked increased research interest in RNA modifications, particularly tRNA methylation, and its connection to various diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning the development of these diseases remain largely elusive. This review sheds light on the roles of several tRNA methylations (m1A, m3C, m5C, m1G, m2G, m7G, m5U, and Nm) in diverse biological functions, including metabolic processing, stability, protein interactions, and mitochondrial activities. It further outlines diseases linked to aberrant tRNA modifications, related enzymes, and potential underlying mechanisms. Moreover, disruptions in tRNA regulation and abnormalities in tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) contribute to disease pathogenesis, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis. The review also delves into the exploration of drugs development targeting tRNA methylation enzymes, emphasizing the therapeutic prospects of modulating these processes. Continued research is imperative for a comprehensive comprehension and integration of these molecular mechanisms in disease diagnosis and treatment.

Dynamic RNA methylation modifications and their regulatory role in mammalian development and diseases

Among over 170 different types of chemical modifications on RNA nucleobases identified so far, RNA methylation is the major type of epitranscriptomic modifications existing on almost all types of RNAs, and has been demonstrated to participate in the entire process of RNA metabolism, including transcription, pre-mRNA alternative splicing and maturation, mRNA nucleus export, mRNA degradation and stabilization, mRNA translation. Attributing to the development of high-throughput detection technologies and the identification of both dynamic regulators and recognition proteins, mechanisms of RNA methylation modification in regulating the normal development of the organism as well as various disease occurrence and developmental abnormalities upon RNA methylation dysregulation have become increasingly clear. Here, we particularly focus on three types of RNA methylations: N6-methylcytosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and N7-methyladenosine (m7G). We summarize the elements related to their dynamic installment and removal, specific binding proteins, and the development of high-throughput detection technologies. Then, for a comprehensive understanding of their biological significance, we also overview the latest knowledge on the underlying mechanisms and key roles of these three mRNA methylation modifications in gametogenesis, embryonic development, immune system development, as well as disease and tumor progression.

The biological function of the N6-Methyladenosine reader YTHDC2 and its role in diseases

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) stands as the most prevalent modified form of RNA in eukaryotes, pivotal in various biological processes such as regulating RNA stability, translation, and transcription. All members within the YT521-B homology (YTH) gene family are categorized as m6A reading proteins, capable of identifying and binding m6A modifications on RNA, thereby regulating RNA metabolism and functioning across diverse physiological processes. YTH domain-containing 2 (YTHDC2), identified as the latest member of the YTH family, has only recently started to emerge for its biological function. Numerous studies have underscored the significance of YTHDC2 in human physiology, highlighting its involvement in both tumor progression and non-tumor diseases. Consequently, this review aims to further elucidate the pathological mechanisms of YTHDC2 by summarizing its functions and roles in tumors and other diseases, with a particular focus on its downstream molecular targets and signaling pathways.

Small molecule inhibitors targeting m6A regulators

As the most common form of epigenetic regulation by RNA, N6 methyladenosine (m6A) modification is closely involved in physiological processes, such as growth and development, stem cell renewal and differentiation, and DNA damage response. Meanwhile, its aberrant expression in cancer tissues promotes the development of malignant tumors, as well as plays important roles in proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, immunity and prognosis. This close association between m6A and cancers has garnered substantial attention in recent years. An increasing number of small molecules have emerged as potential agents to target m6A regulators for cancer treatment. These molecules target the epigenetic level, enabling precise intervention in RNA modifications and efficiently disrupting the survival mechanisms of tumor cells, thus paving the way for novel approaches in cancer treatment. However, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive review on small molecules targeting m6A regulators for anti-tumor. Here, we have comprehensively summarized the classification and functions of m6A regulators, elucidating their interactions with the proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune responses in common cancers. Furthermore, we have provided a comprehensive overview on the development, mode of action, pharmacology and structure-activity relationships of small molecules targeting m6A regulators. Our aim is to offer insights for subsequent drug design and optimization, while also providing an outlook on future prospects for small molecule development targeting m6A.

Targeting non-coding RNAs and N6-methyladenosine modification in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancers, accounts for a significant portion of cancer-related death globally. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the onset and progression of HCC are still not fully understood. Emerging evidence has indicated that non-protein-coding regions of genomes could give rise to transcripts, termed non-coding RNA (ncRNA), forming novel functional driving force for aberrant cellular activity. Over the past decades, overwhelming evidence has denoted involvement of a complex array of molecular function of ncRNAs at different stages of HCC tumorigenesis and progression. In this context, several pre-clinical studies have highlighted the potentials of ncRNAs as novel therapeutic modalities in the management of human HCC. Moreover, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, the most prevalent form of internal mRNA modifications in mammalian cells, is essential for the governance of biological processes within cells. Dysregulation of m6A in ncRNAs has been implicated in human carcinogenesis, including HCC. In this review, we will discuss dysregulation of several hallmark ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) in HCC and address the latest advances for their involvement in the onset and progression of HCC. We also focus on dysregulation of m6A modification and various m6A regulators in the etiology of HCC. In the end, we discussed the contemporary preclinical and clinical application of ncRNA-based and m6A-targeted therapies in HCC.

Abnormal changes in metabolites caused by m6A methylation modification: The leading factors that induce the formation of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and their promising potential for clinical application

BACKGROUND

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation modifications have been widely implicated in the metabolic reprogramming of various cell types within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are essential for meeting the demands of cellular growth and maintaining tissue homeostasis, enabling cells to adapt to the specific conditions of the TME. An increasing number of research studies have focused on the role of m6A modifications in glucose, amino acid and lipid metabolism, revealing their capacity to induce aberrant changes in metabolite levels. These changes may in turn trigger oncogenic signaling pathways, leading to substantial alterations within the TME. Notably, certain metabolites, including lactate, succinate, fumarate, 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), glutamate, glutamine, methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, fatty acids and cholesterol, exhibit pronounced deviations from normal levels. These deviations not only foster tumorigenesis, proliferation and angiogenesis but also give rise to an immunosuppressive TME, thereby facilitating immune evasion by the tumor.

AIM OF REVIEW

The primary objective of this review is to comprehensively discuss the regulatory role of m6A modifications in the aforementioned metabolites and their potential impact on the development of an immunosuppressive TME through metabolic alterations.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This review aims to elaborate on the intricate networks governed by the m6A-metabolite-TME axis and underscores its pivotal role in tumor progression. Furthermore, we delve into the potential implications of the m6A-metabolite-TME axis for the development of novel and targeted therapeutic strategies in cancer research.

Targeting insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) for the treatment of cancer

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IMPs, IGF2BPs) are RNA-binding proteins that regulate a variety of biological processes. In recent years, several studies have found that IGF2BPs play multiple roles in various biological processes, especially in cancer, and speculated on their mechanism of anticancer effect. In addition, targeting IGF2BPs or their downstream target gene has also received extensive attention as an effective treatment for different types of cancer. In this review, we summarized the recent progress on the role of IGF2BPs in cancers and their structural characteristics. We focused on describing the development of inhibitors targeting IGF2BPs and the prospects for further applications.

IGF2BPs as novel m6A readers: Diverse roles in regulating cancer cell biological functions, hypoxia adaptation, metabolism, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

m6A methylation is the most frequent modification of mRNA in eukaryotes and plays a crucial role in cancer progression by regulating biological functions. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BP) are newly identified m6A 'readers'. They belong to a family of RNA-binding proteins, which bind to the m6A sites on different RNA sequences and stabilize them to promote cancer progression. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which different upstream factors regulate IGF2BP in cancer. The current literature analyzed here reveals that the IGF2BP family proteins promote cancer cell proliferation, survival, and chemoresistance, inhibit apoptosis, and are also associated with cancer glycolysis, angiogenesis, and the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, with the discovery of their role as 'readers' of m6A and the characteristic re-expression of IGF2BPs in cancers, it is important to elucidate their mechanism of action in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We also describe in detail the regulatory and interaction network of the IGF2BP family in downstream target RNAs and discuss their potential clinical applications as diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as recent advances in IGF2BP biology and associated therapeutic value.

Small molecule inhibition of RNA binding proteins in haematologic cancer

In recent years, advances in biomedicine have revealed an important role for post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene expression regulation in pathologic conditions. In cancer in general and leukaemia specifically, RNA binding proteins have emerged as important regulator of RNA homoeostasis that are often dysregulated in the disease state. Having established the importance of these pathogenetic mechanisms, there have been a number of efforts to target RNA binding proteins using oligonucleotide-based strategies, as well as with small organic molecules. The field is at an exciting inflection point with the convergence of biomedical knowledge, small molecule screening strategies and improved chemical methods for synthesis and construction of sophisticated small molecules. Here, we review the mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation, specifically in leukaemia, current small-molecule based efforts to target RNA binding proteins, and future prospects.

CRD-BP as a Tumor Marker of Colorectal Cancer

The National Cancer Center published a comparative report on cancer data between China and the United States in the Chinese Medical Journal, which shows that colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks second in China and fourth in the United States. It is worth noting that since 2000, the case fatality rate of CRC in China has skyrocketed, while the United States has gradually declined. Finding tumor markers with high sensitivity and specificity is our primary goal to reduce the case fatality rate of CRC. Studies have shown that CRD-BP (Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1) can affect a variety of signaling pathways, such as Wnt.nuclear factor KB (NF-κB), and Hedgehog, and has good biological effects as a therapeutic target for CRC. CRD-BP is expected to become a tumor marker with high sensitivity and specificity of CRC. This paper reviews the research on CRD-BP as a tumor marker of CRC.

FGF19/FGFR4 signaling contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma survival and immune escape by regulating IGF2BP1-mediated expression of PD-L1

Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have been widely used in clinical treatment of cancer patients, but only 20-30% of patients benefit from immunotherapy. Therefore, it is important to decipher the molecular mechanism of resistance to ICB and develop new combined treatment strategies. PD-L1 up-regulation in tumor cells contributes to the occurrence of immune escape. Increasing evidence shows that its transcription level is affected by multiple factors, which limits the objective response rate of ICB. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, is widely involved in the malignant progression of many tumors by binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4). In this study, we confirmed that FGF19 acts as a driver gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression by binding to FGFR4. The up-regulation of FGF19 and FGFR4 in HCC is associated with poor prognosis. We found that FGF19/FGFR4 promoted the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells by driving IGF2BP1 to promote PD-L1 expression. Knockdown of FGFR4 significantly reduced the expression of IGF2BP1/PD-L1 and inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. These biological effects are achieved by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. The combination of FGFR4 knockdown and anti-PD-1 antibody greatly suppressed tumor growth and enhanced the sensitivity of immunotherapy, highlighting the clinical significance of FGF19/FGFR4 activation in immunotherapy.

CRDBP Protein Phase Separation and Its Recruitment to β-Catenin Protein in a Single Living Cell

The Coding Region Determinant-Binding Protein (CRDBP) is a carcinoembryonic protein, and it is overexpressed in various cancer cells in the form of granules. We speculated the formation of CRDBP granules possibly through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) processes due to the existence of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in CRDBP. So far, we did not know whether or how phase separation processes of CRDBP occur in single living cells due to the lack of in vivo methods for studying intracellular protein phase separation. Therefore, to develop an in situ method for studying protein phase separation in living cells is a very urgent task. In this work, we proposed an efficient method for studying phase separation behavior of CRDBP in a single living cell by combining in situ fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) with a fluorescence protein fusion technique. We first predicted and confirmed that CRDBP has phase separation in solution by conventional fluorescence imaging and FCS methods. And then, we in situ studied the phase separation behaviors of CRDBP in living cells and observed three states of CRDBP phase separation such as monomer state, cluster state, and granule state. We studied the effects of CRDBP truncated forms and its inhibitor on the CRDBP phase separation. Furthermore, we discovered the recruitment of CRDBP to β-catenin protein in living cells and investigated the effects of CRDBP structures and inhibitor on CRDBP recruitment behavior. This finding may help us to further understand the mechanism of CRDBP protein for regulating Wnt signaling pathway. Additionally, our results documented that FCS/FCCS is an efficient and alternative method for studying protein phase separation in situ in living cells.

RNA N6-methyladenosine methylation and skin diseases

Skin diseases are global health issues caused by multiple pathogenic factors, in which epigenetics plays an invaluable role. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications are important epigenetic mechanism that regulate gene expression at the genome-wide level. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification that occurs in the messenger RNAs (mRNA) of most eukaryotes, which is installed by methyltransferases called "writers", removed by demethylases called "erasers", and recognised by RNA-binding proteins called "readers". To date, m6A is emerging to play essential part in both physiological processes and pathological progression, including skin diseases. However, a systematic summary of m6A in skin disease has not yet been reported. This review starts by illustrating each m6A-related modifier specifically and their roles in RNA processing, and then focus on the existing research advances of m6A in immune homeostasis and skin diseases.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in cancer therapeutic resistance: Potential mechanisms and clinical implications

Cancer therapy resistance (CTR) is the development of cancer resistance to multiple therapeutic strategies, which severely affects clinical response and leads to cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been identified as the most common, abundant, and conserved internal transcriptional alterations of RNA modifications, regulating RNA splicing, translation, stabilization, degradation, and gene expression, and is involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer. Recent studies have shown that m6A modifications play a critical role in both cancer development and progression, especially in reversing CTR. Although m6A modifications have great potential in CTR, the specific molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. In this review, we summarize the potential molecular mechanisms of m6A modification in CTR. In addition, we update recent advances in natural products from Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) and small-molecule lead compounds targeting m6A modifications, and discuss the great potential and clinical implications of these inhibitors targeting m6A regulators and combinations with other therapies to improve clinical efficacy and overcome CTR.

Insulin-like Growth Factor II mRNA-Binding Protein 1 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth through the Surveillance of CDC25A mRNA

A number of data indicate that the sources of different kinds of PDAC may be discovered at the transcription/transduction stage. RNA metabolism is manipulated at various steps by different RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and the deregulation or irregular activity of RBPs is known to contribute to tumor promotion and progression. The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein family (IMPs), and IMP1 in particular, has been linked with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients; however, little is known about its contribution in PDAC carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the function of IMP1 in PDAC. To evaluate IMP1 expression and correlation with PDAC prognosis, we utilized several public databases. Using a specific siRNA IMP1, we analyzed cell death and cell cycle progression in PDAC cell lines and 3D spheroids. The role of IMP1 was also evaluated in vivo in a Panc-1-derived tumor xenograft murine model. Public data suggest that PDAC patients with higher expression of IMP1 showed poor overall and progression-free survival. IMP1 silencing leads to reduced cell growth in PDAC cells and three-dimensional spheroids. Abrogation of IMP1 in PDAC cells showed lower levels of CDC25A, increased phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2, and accumulation of PDAC cells in the G1 phase. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that IMP1 binds CDC25A mRNA, thus controlling cell-cycle progression. Ultimately, we proved that suppression of IMP1 blocked in vivo growth of Panc-1 transferred into immunodeficient mice. Our results indicate that IMP1 drives the PDCA cell cycle and represents a novel strategy for overcoming PDCA cell proliferation.

Regulation of m6A modification on ferroptosis and its potential significance in radiosensitization

Radiotherapy is often used to treat various types of cancers, but radioresistance greatly limits the clinical efficiency. Recent studies have shown that radiotherapy can lead to ferroptotic cancer cell deaths. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death caused by excessive lipid peroxidation. The induction of ferroptosis provides a potential therapeutic strategy for radioresistance. As the most common post-transcriptional modification of mRNA, m6A methylation is widely involved in the regulation of various physiopathological processes by regulating RNA function. Dynamic m6A modification controlled by m6A regulatory factors also affects the susceptibility of cells to ferroptosis, thereby determining the radiosensitivity of tumor cells to radiotherapy. In this review, we summarize the mechanism and significance of radiotherapy induced ferroptosis, analyze the regulatory characteristics of m6A modification on ferroptosis, and discuss the possibility of radiosensitization by enhancing m6A-mediated ferroptosis. Clarifying the regulation of m6A modification on ferroptosis and its significance in the response of tumor cells to radiotherapy will help us identify novel targets to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy and reduce or overcome radioresistance.

RNA binding protein IGF2BP1 synergizes with ETV6-RUNX1 to drive oncogenic signaling in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

BACKGROUND

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric hematological malignancy, with ETV6::RUNX1 being the most prevalent translocation whose exact pathogenesis remains unclear. IGF2BP1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Binding Protein 1) is an oncofetal RNA binding protein seen to be specifically overexpressed in ETV6::RUNX1 positive B-ALL. In this study, we have studied the mechanistic role of IGF2BP1 in leukemogenesis and its synergism with the ETV6::RUNX1 fusion protein.

METHODS

Gene expression was analyzed from patient bone marrow RNA using Real Time RT-qPCR. Knockout cell lines were created using CRISPR-Cas9 based lentiviral vectors. RNA-Seq and RNA Immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-Seq) after IGF2BP1 pulldown were performed using the Illumina platform. Mouse experiments were done by retroviral overexpression of donor HSCs followed by lethal irradiation of recipients using a bone marrow transplant model.

RESULTS

We observed specific overexpression of IGF2BP1 in ETV6::RUNX1 positive patients in an Indian cohort of pediatric ALL (n=167) with a positive correlation with prednisolone resistance. IGF2BP1 expression was essential for tumor cell survival in multiple ETV6::RUNX1 positive B-ALL cell lines. Integrated analysis of transcriptome sequencing after IGF2BP1 knockout and RIP-Seq after IGF2BP1 pulldown in Reh cell line revealed that IGF2BP1 targets encompass multiple pro-oncogenic signalling pathways including TNFα/NFκB and PI3K-Akt pathways. These pathways were also dysregulated in primary ETV6::RUNX1 positive B-ALL patient samples from our center as well as in public B-ALL patient datasets. IGF2BP1 showed binding and stabilization of the ETV6::RUNX1 fusion transcript itself. This positive feedback loop led to constitutive dysregulation of several oncogenic pathways. Enforced co-expression of ETV6::RUNX1 and IGF2BP1 in mouse bone marrow resulted in marrow hypercellularity which was characterized by multi-lineage progenitor expansion and strong Ki67 positivity. This pre-leukemic phenotype confirmed their synergism in-vivo. Clonal expansion of cells overexpressing both ETV6::RUNX1 and IGF2BP1 was clearly observed. These mice also developed splenomegaly indicating extramedullary hematopoiesis.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest a combined impact of the ETV6::RUNX1 fusion protein and RNA binding protein, IGF2BP1 in activating multiple oncogenic pathways in B-ALL which makes IGF2BP1 and these pathways as attractive therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Elevated expression of the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 enhances the mRNA stability of INHBA to promote the invasion and migration of esophageal squamous cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains to be elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the roles and implications of IGF2BP1 overexpression in ESCC.

METHODS

IGF2BP1 protein expression in ESCC samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the mRNA abundance of IGF2BP1 and INHBA was analyzed with TCGA datasets and by RNA in situ hybridization (RISH). The methylation level of the IGF2BP1 promoter region was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP-PCR). Cell viability, migration, invasion and in vivo metastasis assays were performed to explore the roles of IGF2BP1 overexpression in ESCC. RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) and mass spectrometry were applied to identify the target RNAs and interacting proteins of IGF2BP1, respectively. RIP-PCR, RNA pulldown, immunofluorescence (IF), gene-specific m6A PCR and RNA stability assays were used to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells caused by IGF2BP1 dysregulation. BTYNB, a small molecular inhibitor of IGF2BP1, was evaluated for its inhibitory effect on the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells.

RESULTS

IGF2BP1 overexpression was detected in ESCC tissues and associated with the depth of tumor invasion. In addition, IGF2BP1 mRNA expression in ESCC cells was negatively correlated with the level of its promoter methylation. Knockdown of IGF2BP1 inhibited ESCC cell invasion and migration as well as tumor metastasis. Mechanistically, we observed that IGF2BP1 bound and stabilized INHBA mRNA and then resulted in higher protein expression of INHBA, leading to the activation of Smad2/3 signaling, thus promoting malignant phenotypes. The mRNA level of INHBA was upregulated in ESCC tissues as well. Furthermore, IGF2BP1 interacted with G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 (G3BP1). Knockdown of G3BP1 also down-regulated the INHBA-Smad2/3 signaling. BTYNB abolished this activated signaling and significantly attenuated the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated expression of IGF2BP1 is a frequent event in ESCC tissues and might be a candidate biomarker for the disease. IGF2BP1 overexpression promotes the invasion and migration of ESCC cells by activating the INHBA-Smad2/3 pathway, providing a potential therapeutic target for ESCC patients with high expression of IGF2BP1.

RNA modification: mechanisms and therapeutic targets

RNA modifications are dynamic and reversible chemical modifications on substrate RNA that are regulated by specific modifying enzymes. They play important roles in the regulation of many biological processes in various diseases, such as the development of cancer and other diseases. With the help of advanced sequencing technologies, the role of RNA modifications has caught increasing attention in human diseases in scientific research. In this review, we briefly summarized the basic mechanisms of several common RNA modifications, including m6A, m5C, m1A, m7G, Ψ, A-to-I editing and ac4C. Importantly, we discussed their potential functions in human diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic and developmental diseases, as well as immune disorders. Through the "writing-erasing-reading" mechanisms, RNA modifications regulate the stability, translation, and localization of pivotal disease-related mRNAs to manipulate disease development. Moreover, we also highlighted in this review all currently available RNA-modifier-targeting small molecular inhibitors or activators, most of which are designed against m6A-related enzymes, such as METTL3, FTO and ALKBH5. This review provides clues for potential clinical therapy as well as future study directions in the RNA modification field. More in-depth studies on RNA modifications, their roles in human diseases and further development of their inhibitors or activators are needed for a thorough understanding of epitranscriptomics as well as diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of human diseases.

m6A-regulated tumor glycolysis: new advances in epigenetics and metabolism

Glycolytic reprogramming is one of the most important features of cancer and plays an integral role in the progression of cancer. In cancer cells, changes in glucose metabolism meet the needs of self-proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, metastasis, and also affect the immune escape, prognosis evaluation and therapeutic effect of cancer. The n6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA is widespread in eukaryotic cells. Dynamic and reversible m6A modifications are widely involved in the regulation of cancer stem cell renewal and differentiation, tumor therapy resistance, tumor microenvironment, tumor immune escape, and tumor metabolism. Lately, more and more evidences show that m6A modification can affect the glycolysis process of tumors in a variety of ways to regulate the biological behavior of tumors. In this review, we discussed the role of glycolysis in tumor genesis and development, and elaborated in detail the profound impact of m6A modification on different tumor by regulating glycolysis. We believe that m6A modified glycolysis has great significance and potential for tumor treatment.

Construction of lncRNA-m6A gene-mRNA regulatory network to identify m6A-related lncRNAs associated with the progression of lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the prognostic value of m6A-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

METHODS

The expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs in LUAD and normal adjacent tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset were analyzed using the limma package. m6A enzyme-related differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were identified and used to construct a regulatory network. Survival analysis was performed and the correlation between lncRNAs, m6A regulators, and mRNAs was analyzed; followed by functional enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

A comparison of LUAD samples and normal tissues identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs, demonstrating that a comprehensive network was established. Two lncRNAs and six mRNAs were selected as prognosis related factors including SH3PXD2A-AS1, MAD2L1, CCNA2, and CDC25C. The pathological stage and recurrence status were identified as independent clinical factors (P < 0.05). The expression levels of these RNAs in the different clinical groups were consistent with those in the different risk groups. The interactions of m6A proteins, two lncRNAs, and six mRNAs were predicted, and functional analysis showed that m6A target mRNAs were involved in the cell cycle, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and oocyte meiosis pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

These m6A target lncRNAs and mRNAs may be promising biomarkers for predicting clinical prognosis, and the lncRNA-m6A regulator-mRNA regulatory network could improve our understanding of m6A modification in LUAD progression.

The roles and implications of RNA m6A modification in cancer

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA, has been extensively and increasingly studied over the past decade. Dysregulation of RNA m6A modification and its associated machinery, including writers, erasers and readers, is frequently observed in various cancer types, and the dysregulation profiles might serve as diagnostic, prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers. Dysregulated m6A modifiers have been shown to function as oncoproteins or tumour suppressors with essential roles in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, metabolism, therapy resistance and immune evasion as well as in cancer stem cell self-renewal and the tumour microenvironment, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting the dysregulated m6A machinery for cancer treatment. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms by which m6A modifiers determine the fate of target RNAs and thereby influence protein expression, molecular pathways and cell phenotypes. We also describe the state-of-the-art methodologies for mapping global m6A epitranscriptomes in cancer. We further summarize discoveries regarding the dysregulation of m6A modifiers and modifications in cancer, their pathological roles, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, we discuss m6A-related prognostic and predictive molecular biomarkers in cancer as well as the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting oncogenic m6A modifiers and their activity in preclinical models.

Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic implications of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins, the emerging crucial m6A regulators of tumors

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) serve essential biological functions as post-transcriptional performers, participating in the acquisition or maintenance of tumor hallmarks due to their distinct protein structures. Emerging evidence indicates that IGF2BPs belong to the class III type of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification readers, controlling RNA stability, storage, localization, metabolism, and translation in multiple vital bioprocesses, particularly tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Here, we discuss the underlying regulatory mechanisms and pathological functions of IGF2BPs which act as m6A readers in the context of tumor pathogenesis and multidrug resistance. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of IGF2BPs as drug targets in clinical tumor treatment. Hence, precise and novel tumor therapeutic approaches could be uncovered by targeting epigenetic heterogeneity.

IGF2BP family of RNA-binding proteins regulate innate and adaptive immune responses in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, and IGF2BP3) are a family of RNA-binding proteins that play an essential role in the development and disease by regulating mRNA stability and translation of critical regulators of cell division and metabolism. Genetic and chemical inhibition of these proteins slows down cancer cell proliferation, decreases invasiveness, and prolongs life span in a variety of animal models. The role of RNA-binding proteins in the induction of tissues' immunogenicity is increasingly recognized, but, the impact of the IGF2BPs family of proteins on the induction of innate and adaptive immune responses in cancer is not fully understood. Here we report that downregulation of IGF2BP1, 2, and 3 expression facilitates the expression of interferon beta-stimulated genes. IGF2BP1 has a greater effect on interferon beta and gamma signaling compared to IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP3 paralogs. We demonstrate that knockdown or knockout of IGF2BP1, 2, and 3 significantly potentiates inhibition of cell growth induced by IFNβ and IFNγ. Mouse melanoma cells with Igf2bp knockouts demonstrate increased expression of MHC I (H-2) and induce intracellular Ifn-γ expression in syngeneic T-lymphocytes in vitro. Increased immunogenicity, associated with Igf2bp1 inhibition, "inflames" mouse melanoma tumors microenvironment in SM1/C57BL/6 and SW1/C3H mouse models measured by a two-fold increase of NK cells and tumor-associated myeloid cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the efficiency of anti-PD1 immunotherapy in the mouse melanoma model is significantly more efficient in tumors that lack Igf2bp1 expression. Our retrospective data analysis of immunotherapies in human melanoma patients indicates that high levels of IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3 are associated with resistance to immunotherapies and poor prognosis. In summary, our study provides evidence of the role of IGF2BP proteins in regulating tumor immunogenicity and establishes those RBPs as immunotherapeutic targets in cancer.

IGF2BP1-An Oncofetal RNA-Binding Protein Fuels Tumor Virus Propagation

The oncofetal RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 has been reported to be a driver of tumor progression in a multitude of cancer entities. Its main function is the stabilization of target transcripts by shielding these from miRNA-mediated degradation. However, there is growing evidence that several virus species recruit IGF2BP1 to promote their propagation. In particular, tumor-promoting viruses, such as hepatitis B/C and human papillomaviruses, benefit from IGF2BP1. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that non-oncogenic viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, also take advantage of IGF2BP1. The only virus inhibited by IGF2BP1 reported to date is HIV-1. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the interactions between IGF2BP1 and different virus species. It further recapitulates several findings by presenting analyses from publicly available high-throughput datasets.

Oncofetal protein IGF2BPs in human cancer: functions, mechanisms and therapeutic potential

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent and well-characterized internal chemical modification in eukaryotic RNA, influencing gene expression and phenotypic changes by controlling RNA fate. Insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) preferentially function as m⁶A effector proteins, promoting stability and translation of m⁶A-modified RNAs. IGF2BPs, particularly IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3, are widely recognized as oncofetal proteins predominantly expressed in cancer rather than normal tissues, playing a critical role in tumor initiation and progression. Consequently, IGF2BPs hold potential for clinical applications and serve as a good choice for targeted treatment strategies. In this review, we discuss the functions and mechanisms of IGF2BPs as m⁶A readers and explore the therapeutic potential of targeting IGF2BPs in human cancer.

IGF2BP1 induces neuroblastoma via a druggable feedforward loop with MYCN promoting 17q oncogene expression

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor in infants accounting for approximately 15% of all cancer-related deaths. Over 50% of high-risk neuroblastoma relapse, emphasizing the need of novel drug targets and therapeutic strategies. In neuroblastoma, chromosomal gains at chromosome 17q, including IGF2BP1, and MYCN amplification at chromosome 2p are associated with adverse outcome. Recent, pre-clinical evidence indicates the feasibility of direct and indirect targeting of IGF2BP1 and MYCN in cancer treatment.

METHODS

Candidate oncogenes on 17q were identified by profiling the transcriptomic/genomic landscape of 100 human neuroblastoma samples and public gene essentiality data. Molecular mechanisms and gene expression profiles underlying the oncogenic and therapeutic target potential of the 17q oncogene IGF2BP1 and its cross-talk with MYCN were characterized and validated in human neuroblastoma cells, xenografts and PDX as well as novel IGF2BP1/MYCN transgene mouse models.

RESULTS

We reveal a novel, druggable feedforward loop of IGF2BP1 (17q) and MYCN (2p) in high-risk neuroblastoma. This promotes 2p/17q chromosomal gains and unleashes an oncogene storm resulting in fostered expression of 17q oncogenes like BIRC5 (survivin). Conditional, sympatho-adrenal transgene expression of IGF2BP1 induces neuroblastoma at a 100% incidence. IGF2BP1-driven malignancies are reminiscent to human high-risk neuroblastoma, including 2p/17q-syntenic chromosomal gains and upregulation of Mycn, Birc5, as well as key neuroblastoma circuit factors like Phox2b. Co-expression of IGF2BP1/MYCN reduces disease latency and survival probability by fostering oncogene expression. Combined inhibition of IGF2BP1 by BTYNB, MYCN by BRD inhibitors or BIRC5 by YM-155 is beneficial in vitro and, for BTYNB, also.

CONCLUSION

We reveal a novel, druggable neuroblastoma oncogene circuit settling on strong, transcriptional/post-transcriptional synergy of MYCN and IGF2BP1. MYCN/IGF2BP1 feedforward regulation promotes an oncogene storm harboring high therapeutic potential for combined, targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1, MYCN expression and MYCN/IGF2BP1-effectors like BIRC5.

RNA-binding proteins in cancer drug discovery

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are crucial players in tumorigenesis and, hence, promising targets in cancer drug discovery. However, they are largely regarded as 'undruggable', because of the often noncatalytic and complex interactions between protein and RNA, which limit the discovery of specific inhibitors. Nonetheless, over the past 10 years, drug discovery efforts have uncovered RBP inhibitors with clinical relevance, highlighting the disruption of RNA-protein networks as a promising avenue for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the role of structurally distinct RBPs in cancer, and the mechanisms of RBP-directed small-molecule inhibitors (SMOIs) focusing on drug-protein interactions, binding surfaces, potency, and translational potential. Additionally, we underline the limitations of RBP-targeting drug discovery assays and comment on future trends in the field.

Aberrant RNA m6A modification in gastrointestinal malignancies: versatile regulators of cancer hallmarks and novel therapeutic opportunities

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the most common malignancies, and a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. However, molecular targeted therapies are still lacking, leading to poor treatment efficacies. As an important layer of epigenetic regulation, RNA N6-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification is recently linked to various biological hallmarks of cancer by orchestrating RNA metabolism, including RNA splicing, export, translation, and decay, which is partially involved in a novel biological process termed phase separation. Through these regulatory mechanisms, m⁶A dictates gene expression in a dynamic and reversible manner and may play oncogenic, tumor suppressive or context-dependent roles in GI tumorigenesis. Therefore, regulators and effectors of m⁶A, as well as their modified substrates, represent a novel class of molecular targets for cancer treatments. In this review, we comprehensively summarize recent advances in this field and highlight research findings that documented key roles of RNA m⁶A modification in governing hallmarks of GI cancers. From a historical perspective, milestone findings in m⁶A machinery are integrated with a timeline of developing m⁶A targeting compounds. These available chemical compounds, as well as other approaches that target core components of the RNA m⁶A pathway hold promises for clinical translational to treat human GI cancers. Further investigation on several outstanding issues, e.g. how oncogenic insults may disrupt m⁶A homeostasis, and how m⁶A modification impacts on the tumor microenvironment, may dissect novel mechanisms underlying human tumorigenesis and identifies next-generation anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss advances in our understanding of m⁶A RNA modification since its discovery in the 1970s to the latest progress in defining its potential clinic relevance. We summarize the molecular basis and roles of m⁶A regulators in the hallmarks of GI cancer and discuss their context-dependent functions. Furthermore, the identification and characterization of inhibitors or activators of m⁶A regulators and their potential anti-cancer effects are discussed. With the rapid growth in this field there is significant potential for developing m⁶A targeted therapy in GI cancers.

IGF2BP1-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation and its associated RNA-binding protein insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) are involved in tumor initiation and progression. Here, we explored the biological function and clinical significance of IGF2BP1 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). We found that IGF2BP1 expression was upregulated by H3K27 acetylation enrichment of its promoter, which positively correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and survival. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that IGF2BP1 overexpression (knockdown) enhanced (attenuated) iCCA growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, IGF2BP1 not only regulated the c-Myc/p16 axis to promote iCCA growth and inhibit senescence, but also activated the ZIC2/PAK4/AKT/MMP2 axis to induce tumor metastasis. More importantly, BTYNB, a recently identified IGF2BP1 inhibitor, exerted promising anti-tumor efficacy in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, and IGF2BP1 conditional knockout (cKO) reduced the tumor burden. These results demonstrate the crucial role of IGF2BP1 in iCCA progression via m6A-dependent modification, highlighting IGF2BP1 as a potential therapeutic target in iCCA.

Interaction between N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and environmental chemical-induced diseases in various organ systems

A wide variety of chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment and thus exposure to these environmental chemicals poses a serious threat to public health. Particularly, environmental factors such as air pollution, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can lead to diseases in various organ systems. Recent research in environmental epigenetics has demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a key mechanism of environment-related diseases. m6A modification is the most abundant chemical modification in mRNAs, which can specifically regulate gene expression by affecting RNA translation, stability, processing, and nuclear export. In this review, we discussed how environmental chemicals affected m6A modification and mediated environment-related disease occurrence by classifying the diseases of various systems. Here, we conclude that environmental chemicals alter the levels of m6A and its modulators, which then participate in the occurrence of diseases in various systems by regulating gene expression and downstream signaling pathways such as METTL3/m6A ZBTB4/YTHDF2/EZH2, Foxo3a/FTO/m6A ephrin-B2/YTHDF2, and HIF1A/METTL3/m6A BIRC5/IGF2BP3/VEGFA. Considering the significant role of m6A and its modulators in response to environmental chemicals, they are expected to be used as biomarkers of environment-related diseases. Additionally, targeting m6A modulators using small molecule inhibitors and activators is expected to be a new method for the treatment of environment-related diseases. This review systematically and comprehensively clarifies the important role of m6A in diseases caused by environmental chemicals, thus establishing a scientific basis for the treatment of diseases in various organ systems.

Targeting RNA N6-methyladenosine to synergize with immune checkpoint therapy

Cancer immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint therapy, has revolutionized therapeutic options by reactivating the host immune system. However, the efficacy varies, and only a small portion of patients develop sustained antitumor responses. Hence, illustrating novel strategies that improve the clinical outcome of immune checkpoint therapy is urgently needed. N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) has been proved to be an efficient and dynamic posttranscriptional modification process. It is involved in numerous RNA processing, such as splicing, trafficking, translation and degradation. Compelling evidence emphasizes the paramount role of m⁶A modification in the regulation of immune response. These findings may provide a foundation for the rational combination of targeting m⁶A modification and immune checkpoints in cancer treatment. In the present review, we summarize the current landscape of m⁶A modification in RNA biology, and highlight the latest findings on the complex mechanisms by which m⁶A modification governs immune checkpoint molecules. Furthermore, given the critical role of m⁶A modification in antitumor immunity, we discuss the clinical significance of targeting m⁶A modification to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy for cancer control.

Emerging roles of m6A RNA modification in cancer therapeutic resistance

Marvelous advancements have been made in cancer therapies to improve clinical outcomes over the years. However, therapeutic resistance has always been a major difficulty in cancer therapy, with extremely complicated mechanisms remain elusive. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, a hotspot in epigenetics, has gained growing attention as a potential determinant of therapeutic resistance. As the most prevalent RNA modification, m6A is involved in every links of RNA metabolism, including RNA splicing, nuclear export, translation and stability. Three kinds of regulators, "writer" (methyltransferase), "eraser" (demethylase) and "reader" (m6A binding proteins), together orchestrate the dynamic and reversible process of m6A modification. Herein, we primarily reviewed the regulatory mechanisms of m6A in therapeutic resistance, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Then we discussed the clinical potential of m6A modification to overcome resistance and optimize cancer therapy. Additionally, we proposed existing problems in current research and prospects for future research.

c-MYC-Driven Polyamine Metabolism in Ovarian Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Early Detection and Therapy

c-MYC and its paralogues MYCN and MYCL are among the most frequently amplified and/or overexpressed oncoproteins in ovarian cancer. c-MYC plays a key role in promoting ovarian cancer initiation and progression. The polyamine pathway is a bona fide target of c-MYC signaling, and polyamine metabolism is strongly intertwined with ovarian malignancy. Targeting of the polyamine pathway via small molecule inhibitors has garnered considerable attention as a therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer. Herein, we discuss the involvement of c-MYC signaling and that of its paralogues in promoting ovarian cancer tumorigenesis. We highlight the potential of targeting c-MYC-driven polyamine metabolism for the treatment of ovarian cancers and the utility of polyamine signatures in biofluids for early detection applications.

Target c-Myc to treat pancreatic cancer

C-Myc overexpression is a common finding in pancreatic cancer and predicts the aggressive behavior of cancer cells. It binds to the promoter of different genes, thereby regulating their transcription. C-Myc is downstream of KRAS and interacts with several oncogenic and proliferative pathways in pancreatic cancer. C-Myc enhances aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells and regulates glutamate biosynthesis from glutamine. It provides enough energy for cancer cells' metabolism and sufficient substrate for the synthesis of organic molecules. C-Myc overexpression is associated with chemoresistance, intra-tumor angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Despite its title, c-Myc is not "undruggable" and recent studies unveiled that it can be targeted, directly or indirectly. Small molecules that accelerate c-Myc ubiquitination and degradation have been effective in preclinical studies. Small molecules that hinder c-Myc-MAX heterodimerization or c-Myc/MAX/DNA complex formation can functionally inhibit c-Myc. In addition, c-Myc can be targeted through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational modifications.

Biological and pharmacological roles of m6A modifications in cancer drug resistance

Cancer drug resistance represents the main obstacle in cancer treatment. Drug-resistant cancers exhibit complex molecular mechanisms to hit back therapy under pharmacological pressure. As a reversible epigenetic modification, N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modification was regarded to be the most common epigenetic RNA modification. RNA methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m⁶A-binding proteins (readers) are frequently disordered in several tumors, thus regulating the expression of oncoproteins, enhancing tumorigenesis, cancer proliferation, development, and metastasis. The review elucidated the underlying role of m⁶A in therapy resistance. Alteration of the m⁶A modification affected drug efficacy by restructuring multidrug efflux transporters, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and anticancer drug targets. Furthermore, the variation resulted in resistance by regulating DNA damage repair, downstream adaptive response (apoptosis, autophagy, and oncogenic bypass signaling), cell stemness, tumor immune microenvironment, and exosomal non-coding RNA. It is highlighted that several small molecules targeting m⁶A regulators have shown significant potential for overcoming drug resistance in different cancer categories. Further inhibitors and activators of RNA m⁶A-modified proteins are expected to provide novel anticancer drugs, delivering the therapeutic potential for addressing the challenge of resistance in clinical resistance.

The m6A reader IGF2BP2 regulates glutamine metabolism and represents a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia

N⁶-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification and its modulators play critical roles and show promise as therapeutic targets in human cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). IGF2BP2 was recently reported as an m⁶A binding protein that enhances mRNA stability and translation. However, its function in AML remains largely elusive. Here we report the oncogenic role and the therapeutic targeting of IGF2BP2 in AML. High expression of IGF2BP2 is observed in AML and associates with unfavorable prognosis. IGF2BP2 promotes AML development and self-renewal of leukemia stem/initiation cells by regulating expression of critical targets (e.g., MYC, GPT2, and SLC1A5) in the glutamine metabolism pathways in an m⁶A-dependent manner. Inhibiting IGF2BP2 with our recently identified small-molecule compound (CWI1-2) shows promising anti-leukemia effects in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our results reveal a role of IGF2BP2 and m⁶A modification in amino acid metabolism and highlight the potential of targeting IGF2BP2 as a promising therapeutic strategy in AML.

IMP1/IGF2BP1 in human colorectal cancer extracellular vesicles

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. There is an urgent need for new methods of early CRC detection and monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted, lipid-bilayer bound, nanoparticles that carry biological cargo throughout the body and in turn exhibit cancer-related biomarker potential. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression that may provide a link between host cell gene expression and EV phenotypes. Insulin-like growth factor 2 RNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1/IMP1) is an RBP that is highly expressed in CRC with higher levels of expression correlating with poor prognosis. IMP1 binds and potently regulates tumor-associated transcripts that may impact CRC EV phenotypes. Our objective was to test whether IMP1 expression levels impact EV secretion and/or cargo. We used RNA sequencing, in vitro CRC cell lines, ex vivo colonoid models, and xenograft mice to test the hypothesis that IMP1 influences EV secretion and/or cargo in human CRC. Our data demonstrate that IMP1 modulates the RNA expression of transcripts associated with extracellular vesicle pathway regulation, but it has no effect on EV secretion levels in vitro or in vivo. Rather, IMP1 appears to affect EV regulation by directly entering EVs in a transformation-dependent manner. These findings suggest that IMP1 has the ability to shape EV cargo in human CRC, which could serve as a diagnostic/prognostic circulating tumor biomarker.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work demonstrates that the RNA binding protein IGF2BP1/IMP1 alters the transcript profile of colorectal cancer cell (CRC) mRNAs from extracellular vesicle (EV) pathways. IMP1 does not alter EV production or secretion in vitro or in vivo, but rather enters CRC cells where it may further impact EV cargo. Our work shows that IMP1 has the ability to shape EV cargo in human CRC, which could serve as a diagnostic/prognostic circulating tumor biomarker.

RNA m6 A methylation in cancer

N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A) is one of the most abundant internal modifications in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). It is a reversible and dynamic RNA modification that has been observed in both internal coding segments and untranslated regions. Studies indicate that m⁶ A modifications play important roles in translation, RNA splicing, export, degradation and ncRNA processing control. In this review, we focus on the profiles and biological functions of RNA m⁶ A methylation on both mRNAs and ncRNAs. The dynamic modification of m⁶ A and its potential roles in cancer development are discussed. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of m⁶ A modifications serving as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and targets for therapy.

Targeting the "undruggable": RNA-binding proteins in the spotlight in cancer therapy

Tumors refractory to conventional therapy belong to specific subpopulations of cancer cells, which have acquired a higher number of mutations/epigenetic changes than the majority of cancer cells. This property provides them the ability to become resistant to therapy. Aberrant expression of certain RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can regulate the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by binding to specific regions present in the 3´-UTR of certain mRNAs to promote or repress mRNA translation or by interacting with other proteins (including RBPs) and non-coding RNAs that are part of ribonucleoprotein complexes. In particular, an increasing interest in the RBPs involved in chemoresistance has recently emerged. In this review, we discuss how RBPs are not only affected by chemotherapeutic treatments, but also play an active role in therapeutic responses via the direct modulation of crucial cancer-related proteins. A special focus is being placed on the development of therapeutic strategies targeting these RBPs.

The IGF2BP family of RNA binding proteins links epitranscriptomics to cancer

RNA binding proteins that act at the post-transcriptional level display a richness of mechanisms to modulate the transcriptional output and respond to changing cellular conditions. The family of IGF2BP proteins recognize mRNAs modified by methylation and lengthen their lifecycle in the context of stable ribonucleoprotein particles to promote cancer progression. They are emerging as key 'reader' proteins in the epitranscriptomic field, driving the fate of bound substrates under physiological and disease conditions. Recent developments in the field include the recognition that noncoding substrates play crucial roles in mediating the pro-growth features of IGF2BP family, not only as regulated targets, but also as modulators of IGF2BP function themselves. In this review, we summarize the regulatory roles of IGF2BP proteins and link their molecular role as m⁶A modification readers to the cellular phenotype, thus providing a comprehensive insight into IGF2BP function.

Feedforward loop between IMP1 and YAP/TAZ promotes tumorigenesis and malignant progression in glioblastoma

YAP/TAZ have been identified as master regulators in malignant phenotypes of glioblastoma (GBM); however, YAP/TAZ transcriptional disruptor in GBM treatment remains ineffective. Whether post-transcriptional dysregulation of YAP/TAZ improves GBM outcome is currently unknown. Here, we report that insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1 or IMP1) is upregulated in mesenchymal GBM compared with proneural GBM and correlates with worse patient outcome. Overexpression of IMP1 in proneural glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) promotes while IMP1 knockdown in mesenchymal GSCs attenuates tumorigenesis and mesenchymal signatures. IMP1 binds to and stabilizes m6A-YAP mRNA, leading to activation of YAP/TAZ signaling, depending on its m6A recognition and binding domain. On the other hand, TAZ functions as enhancer for IMP1 expression. Collectively, our data reveal a feedforward loop between IMP1 and YAP/TAZ maintaining GBM/GSC tumorigenesis and malignant progression and a promising molecular target in GBM.

The emerging therapeutic target of dynamic and reversible N6-methyladenosine modification during cancer development

As a reversible and dynamic epigenetic modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. m6A methylation is prevalent in almost all RNA metabolism processes that affect the fate of cells, including cancer development. As indicated by the available evidence, targeting m6A regulators may play a crucial role in tumor therapy and multidrug resistance. Currently, many questions remain uncovered. Here, we review recent studies on m6A modification in various aspects of tumor progression, tumor immunity, multidrug resistance, and therapeutic targets to provide new insight into the m6A methylation process.

Targeting RNA N6-methyladenosine modification: a precise weapon in overcoming tumor immune escape

Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized the treatment of many types of cancer, particularly advanced-stage cancers. Nevertheless, although a subset of patients experiences dramatic and long-term disease regression in response to ICIs, most patients do not benefit from these treatments. Some may even experience cancer progression. Immune escape by tumor cells may be a key reason for this low response rate. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common type of RNA methylation and has been recognized as a critical regulator of tumors and the immune system. Therefore, m⁶A modification and related regulators are promising targets for improving the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. However, the association between m⁶A modification and tumor immune escape (TIE) has not been comprehensively summarized. Therefore, this review summarizes the existing knowledge regarding m⁶A modifications involved in TIE and their potential mechanisms of action. Moreover, we provide an overview of currently available agents targeting m⁶A regulators that have been tested for their elevated effects on TIE. This review establishes the association between m⁶A modifications and TIE and provides new insights and strategies for maximizing the efficacy of immunotherapy by specifically targeting m⁶A modifications involved in TIE.

Elevated insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 levels predict a poor prognosis in patients with breast carcinoma using an integrated multi-omics data analysis

Background: Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) controls the cytoplasmic fate of certain mRNAs and is hypothesized to predict a poor patient prognosis in several malignant tumors. However, the prognostic relevance of IGF2BP1 in breast cancer remains debatable.

Methods: We interrogated large publicly available datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and cBioportal databases to analyze the genetic alterations in the expression levels of IGF2BP1 in patients with invasive breast carcinoma (BRCA), and to discern the prognostic value of IGF2BP1 in BRCA. We applied Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to uncover a functional association between IGF2BP1 and BRCA using differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and we screened genes and proteins related to BRCA.

Results: We determined that both genetic alterations in IGF2BP1 (approximately 10%) and an increase in IGF2BP1 mRNA levels were related to certain cancer subtypes and an unfavorable prognosis in BRCA patients, and we then established an OS nomogram upon our multivariate regression model. The DEGs and IGF2BP1-correlated genes/proteins that implied the involvement of cornification, keratinization, drug/xenobiotic metabolism by cytochrome P450, chemical carcinogenesis, cell interactions, and cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) pathways with respect to the prognostic relevance of IGF2BP1.

Conclusion: In summary, our results indicated that both genetic alterations in IGF2BP1 and increased levels of IGF2BP1 mRNA and protein predict a poor patient prognosis in BRCA patients.