Dmdrmr-Mediated Regulation Of (M)(6)A-Modified Cdk4 By M(6)A Reader Igf2bp3 Drives Ccrcc Progression

Aberrant N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification has emerged as a driver of tumor initiation and progression, yet how long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) are involved in the regulation of m(6)A remains unknown. Here we utilize data from 12 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas to comprehensively map lncRNAs that are potentially deregulated by DNA methylation. A novel DNA methylation-deregulated and RNA m(6)A reader-cooperating lncRNA (DMDRMR) facilitated tumor growth and metastasis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Mechanistically, DMDRMR bound insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) to stabilize target genes, including the cell-cycle kinase CDK4 and three extracellular matrix components (COL6A1, LAMAS, and FN1), by specifically enhancing IGF2BP3 activity on them in an m(6)A-dependent manner. Consequently, DMDRMR and IGF2BP3 enhanced the G(1)-S transition, thus promoting cell proliferation in ccRCC. In patients with ccRCC, high coexpression of DMDRMR and IGF2BP3 was associated with poor outcomes. Our findings reveal that DMDRMR cooperates with IGF2BP3 to regulate target genes in an m(6)A-dependent manner and may represent a potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target in ccRCC.Significance: This study demonstrates that the lncRNA DMDRMR acts as a cofactor for IGF2BP3 to stabilize target genes in an m(6)A-dependent manner, thus exerting essential oncogenic roles in ccRCC.