The key m6A methylation regulator IGF2BP1 possesses potential prognostic value in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) poses a risk of recurrence, and the efficacy of existing treatments is limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA methylation is involved in tumorigenesis and progression, yet the role of m6A RNA methylation regulators in PTC remains unclear. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was utilized to analyze 17 m6A regulators in PTC. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) was markedly down-regulated in PTC, yet higher IGF2BP1 expression predicts better 5-year survival, acting as an independent prognostic marker with high accuracy. Elevated IGF2BP1 also indicated greater sensitivity to doxorubicin and sunitinib. Clinically, low IGF2BP1 correlated with central lymph-node metastasis and BRAFV600E mutation. Additionally, IGF2BP1 overexpression suppresses thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. In conclusion, High expression of IGF2BP1 was associated with a favorable prognosis in PTC, and it served as an independent prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for PTC.