DMDRMR-mediated regulation of m6A-modified CDK4 by m6A reader IGF2BP3 drives ccRCC progression

Aberrant N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has emerged as a driver of tumor initiation and progression, yet how lncRNA are involved in the regulation of m6A remains unknown. Here we utilize data from 12 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas to comprehensively map lncRNA that are potentially deregulated by DNA methylation. A novel DNA methylation-deregulated and RNA m6A 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, LAMA5, and FN1), by specifically enhancing IGF2BP3 activity on them in an m6A-dependent manner. Consequently, DMDRMR and IGF2BP3 enhanced the G1/S transition, thus promoting cell proliferation in ccRCC. In ccRCC patients, 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 m6A-dependent manner and may represent a potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target in ccRCC.