Identification of implications of m6A regulators and autophagy-associated genes for prognosis in ovarian cancer

The most prevalent RNA alteration in the mammalian genome is N-6-methylenediosine (m6A). There is mounting evidence linking dysregulation of m6A regulatory factors and alterations in m6A levels to the development, course, or prognosis of ovarian cancer. Genes having prognostic value were screened using the univariate, multifactorial, and Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses. Important genes’ m6A expression in clinical material was verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In present study, all 23 regulators were significantly differentially expressed in ovarian cancer tissues. LASSO regression analysis screened for 10 key genes associated with both autophagy and m6A. A risk score was constructed and nomogram was developed to forecast the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Additionally, individuals with ovarian cancer were classified as high-risk or low-risk; and the low-risk group might be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. RT-qPCR was used for the bioinformatics study of human ovarian cancer and normal tissues. Lastly, PLK2 and LEPR were confirmed to be associated with tumorigenesis in scRNA-seq. The risk score established by m6A and autophagy can be used to predict prognosis and susceptibility to anticancer drugs in patients with ovarian cancer.