Abstract:
Objective To analyze the expression of m6A methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) gene in pan-tumor and its effect on tumor microenvironment.
Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze the gene sequencing and clinical data of patients with various tumors. The expressions of METTL3 gene in various tumors and its correlations with prognosis and tumor microenvironment were analyzed.
Results METTL3 gene expression was upregulated in most malignancies, but only was associated with poor PFS of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate cancer (P < 0.05). The expression of METTL3 gene was associated with the infiltration levels of many inmmunet cells in hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate cancer, as well as the expression levels of inhibitory immune checkpoint genes (P < 0.05).
Conclusions METTL3 gene overexpression could affect the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate cancer, which maybe associated with immune invasion and inhibitory immune checkpoints increased.