Identification of Expression Patterns and Potential Prognostic Significance of m5C-Related Regulators in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

5-Methylcytosine (m(5)C) methylation is a major epigenetic technique of RNA modification and is dynamically mediated by m(5)C writers, erasers, and readers. m(5)C RNA modification and its regulators are implicated in the onset and development of many tumors, but their roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not yet been completely elucidated. In this study, we examined expression patterns of core m(5)C regulators in the publicly available HNSCC cohort via bioinformatic methods. The differentially expressed m(5)C regulators could divide the HNSCC cohort into four subgroups with distinct prognostic characteristics. Furthermore, a three-gene expression signature model, comprised of NSUN5, DNMT1, and DNMT3A, was established to identify individuals with a high or low risk of HNSCC. To explore the underlying mechanism in the prognosis of HNSCC, screening of differentially expressed genes, followed by the analysis of functional and pathway enrichment, from individuals with high- or low-risk HNSCC was performed. The results revealed a critical role for m(5)C RNA modification in two aspects of HNSCC: (1) dynamic m(5)C modification contributes to the regulation of HNSCC progression and (2) expression patterns of NSUN5, DNMT1, and DNMT3A help to predict the prognosis of HNSCC.

Automated summary

This study investigated the role of m(5)C RNA modification in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and found that dynamic m(5)C modification contributes to HNSCC progression, while the expression patterns of NSUN5, DNMT1, and DNMT3A help to predict the prognosis of HNSCC.