The m6A reader IGF2BP2 promotes ESCC progression by stabilizing HDGF mRNA.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the role of IGF2BP2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, transcriptome sequencing, and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset were used to detect the expression of m6A-associated genes in ESCC. The in vitro and in vivo assays were used to explore the role of IGF2BP2 in ESCC.

RESULTS

IGF2BP2 was significantly overexpressed in human ESCC specimens, which was confirmed by analyzing the GEO dataset. IGF2BP2 overexpression was correlated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. Altering the expression of IGF2BP2 influenced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. IGF2BP2 could bind to and stabilize hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) transcripts in ESCC in an m6A-dependent manner and promote HDGF expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the novel IGF2BP2-HDGF axis is pivotal for ESCC cancer progression and can serve as a target for developing therapeutics.