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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Head and Neck Cancer
Volume 15 - 2025 |
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1516867
This article is part of the Research Topic Early Diagnosis in Head and Neck Cancer: Advances, Techniques, and Challenges View all 3 articles
Expression and Prognostic Significance of the m6A RNA Methylation Regulator HNRNPC in HNSCC
Provisionally accepted
Yulin Zhang 1
Yixu Wang 2
Jilin Peng 1* Kun Zhao 1* Ling Li 1* Yuan Zhang 1* Ziyu Zhai 1*
Sijie Yuan 1 Shichao Li 3,4,5*
Fanglei Ye 1*
Le Wang 1*- 1 Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- 2 Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
- 3 Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- 4 People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- 5 People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is crucial for tumor development and progression; however, which m6A regulators play a pivotal role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains ambiguous.Utilizing the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the expression levels of m6A regulators in HNSCC were examined, which led to the identification of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) as a key gene. Further experiments were performed in patient samples, stable cell lines, and a murine xenograft tumor model. Results A reliable survival risk model of m6A was constructed based on the TCGA database. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), normal and tumor tissue microarrays (TMA), and tumor tissue samples from patients with HNSCC were observed that a high level of HNRNPC expression was closely linked to a poor prognosis among patients. Knockdown of HNRNPC in the HNSCC cell lines HSC-3 and CAL-27 resulted in a significant decrease in proliferation, invasion, and malignant transformation abilities. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing (MeRIP-seq) data revealed that HNRNPC is involved in cell differentiation, cell migration and apoptosis. The mouse xenograft model elucidated that HNRNPC can promote tumorigenesis and progression of HNSCC. Conclusions HNRNPC can serve as a valuable predictor of tumor progression and prognosis in patients with HNSCC.
Keywords: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Prognostic significance, tumor progression, N6-Methyladenosine
Received: 25 Oct 2024; Accepted: 17 Jan 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Wang, Peng, Zhao, Li, Zhang, Zhai, Yuan, Li, Ye and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Jilin Peng, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Kun Zhao, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Ling Li, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Yuan Zhang, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Ziyu Zhai, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Shichao Li, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan Province, China
Fanglei Ye, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Le Wang, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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