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METTL3-mediated m6A modification of DNMT1 enhances ovarian cancer progression

Kumari, K.; Perez-Nunez, I.; Noguera, A.; Pluvinet, R.; Peula, C.; Patthey, A.; Khan, G. N.; Pajdzik, K.; Roman, A.; Dassi, E.; He, C.; Lundin, E.; Esteller, M.; Celia-Terrassa, T.; Aguilo, F.

2025-09-12 cancer biology
10.1101/2025.09.10.675425 bioRxiv
Show abstract

High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the most lethal subtype of ovarian cancer, is often diagnosed at advanced stages owing to its asymptomatic progression and lack of early detection markers. In this study, we identified a critical oncogenic role of the RNA methyltransferase METTL3 and the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification pathway in HGSC. Depletion of METTL3 or its binding partner METTL14 impairs ovarian cancer proliferation and tumor progression. Mechanistically, m6A deposition enhances the translation of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, an epigenetic repressor that silences tumor suppressor genes. Pharmacologic inhibition of DNMT1 led to DNA hypomethylation and upregulation of the tumor suppressors TNFAIP3 and FBXO32. Consistently, METTL3 depletion also increased the expression of these genes supporting a model in which METTL3 sustains oncogenesis by maintaining DNMT1 protein levels and repressing anti-tumor pathways. These findings position METTL3-mediated RNA modifications and DNMT1 as promising therapeutic targets in HGSC.

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