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

Purpose: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]