<p>WTAP is a prognostic marker of high-grade serous ovarian cancer and regulates the progression of ovarian cancer cells</p>

Abstract

Background The Wilms’ tumor suppressor WT1 is reported to work in a range of physiological processes at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional level. WT1-associating protein (WTAP), a nuclear protein co-localized with splicing factors, also plays a vital role in cellular function and cancer progression. However, little is known about the role of WTAP in ovarian cancer and the underlying mechanism. Materials and methods To evaluate the expression of WTAP, multiple means were applied in clinical tissues, including immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. Two representative ovarian cancer cell lines (3AO and SKOV3) were used to assess the malignant influence of WTAP on proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. To explore its function, WTAP was additionally down-regulated by lentivirus. Results High expression of WTAP in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) predicted a shorter overall survival ( P <0.01). Furthermore, WTAP expression was higher in HGSOC, compared with that in normal ovary group ( P <0.01), benign ovarian tumor group ( P <0.01), and non-HGSOC group ( P <0.05). In HGSOC, high expression of WTAP was significantly related with the lymph node metastasis ( P <0.05). In ovarian cancer cell lines, cell proliferation and migration were considerably reduced after WTAP was down-regulated, while apoptotic rate was increased. Moreover, the effect of WTAP in 3AO and SKOV3 might be relevant with MAPK and AKT signaling pathways. Conclusion WTAP is highly expressed in HGSOC, and indicates a worse survival outcome. Therefore, it is highly possible that WTAP has a prognostic implication in the patients of HGSOC. In addition, WTAP down-regulation also plays a tumor suppressor role in 3AO and SKOV3 cell lines.

Prognostic values of m6A RNA methylation regulators in differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

“…In our study, we revealed that the expression of ALKBH5 was lower in DTC compared with that in normal thyroid tissues, suggesting that further research is needed to understand the role of ALKBH5 in DTC. WTAP is a nuclear protein widely expressed in cells and tissues, plays an essential role in cellular function and cancer progression, which was first been found for its specific interaction with Wilms' tumor 1 [56,57]. WTAP is a conserved nuclear protein that shows decreased expression in breast cancer [38].…”

WTAP promotes osteosarcoma tumorigenesis by repressing HMBOX1 expression in an m6A-dependent manner

“…In addition, accumulated studies identified the important role of WTAP in the progression of various cancers 37 . For example, WTAP function as oncogene in cholangiocarcinoma 38 , acute myeloid leukemia 39 , colon cancer 40 , ovarian cancer 41 , and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma 42 . Recent studies reported that WTAP is strictly connected to a functional m 6 A methylation complex 43 .…”

METTL3 regulates m6A in endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer independently of METTl14 and WTAP

“…Currently, although METTL3 plays a carcinogenic role in ovarian cancers (Hua et al, 2018; S. Liang et al, 2020), and WTAP has also been reported as a classical hallmark of the progression and metastasis of OC (Barbolina, Adley, Shea, & Stack, 2008; Yu et al, 2019) and beneficial to OC diagnosis and prognosis (L. S. Wu, Qian, Wang, & Yang, 2016), the characterization and the coordination of m6A “writers” and gene transcription in a certain subtype of OC, such as EEOC is largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the expression profile of METTL3 in EEOC and analyzed the relationship between METTL3 and the tumor malignancy and survival status in vivo.…”