FTO promotes bladder cancer progression and stemness-associated phenotypes.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• The fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an m6A demethylase implicated in various cancers.
• Its role in bladder cancer (BCa) progression and stemness remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression and functional significance of FTO in bladder cancer.
• To explore FTO's impact on bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and validation in BCa cell lines.
• In vitro functional assays (cell proliferation, migration, invasion, colony formation) and in vivo xenograft models.
• Transcriptomic analysis to identify associated molecular pathways.

Main Results:

• FTO is significantly overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues and linked to poorer survival.
• FTO knockdown suppressed BCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation in vitro.
• FTO depletion inhibited tumor growth and liver colonization in vivo, and was associated with EMT and CSC pathways.

Conclusions:

• FTO acts as an oncoprotein in bladder cancer, driving progression and stemness.
• FTO inhibition impairs bladder cancer growth and metastasis.
• FTO represents a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for bladder cancer.