METTL4 and METTL5 as biomarkers for recurrence-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with high rates of postoperative recurrence. Identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting recurrence is critical for improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the predictive value of m6A methylation-related genes, METTL4 and METTL5, on HCC recurrence after surgery. We analyzed METTL4 and METTL5 expression in HCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues using the TCGA database and evaluated their levels in surgical samples from 67 hCC patients. A recurrence risk model was developed and validated in an external cohort of 65 patients. METTL4 and METTL5 were significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. High expression correlated with shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS). The model stratified patients into high, medium, and low-risk groups with 3-year RFS rates of 18.75%, 69.70%, and 93.75%, respectively. METTL4 and METTL5 expression levels are strong predictors of HCC recurrence. The risk model offers a novel approach for postoperative management of HCC.