ALKBH5

Overview

ALKBH5 (AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase) encodes an RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase involved in mRNA modification and gene expression regulation. In cancer genomics, ALKBH5 has been identified as a recurrent HBV DNA integration site in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), suggesting a mechanism by which HBV integration may dysregulate oncogenic pathways.

Alterations observed in the corpus

  • Recurrent HBV integration site in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; HBV DNA integration near ALKBH5 observed alongside insertions near TERT, MET, and FAT2 in 41 iCCA patients including HBV-positive cases PMID:25526346

Cancer types (linked)

  • Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA): Recurrent HBV integration target in HBV-positive iCCA cohort; integration near ALKBH5 may contribute to transcriptional dysregulation PMID:25526346

Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity

  • HBV integration events near ALKBH5 co-occur with insertions near TERT (promoter hyperactivation), MET, and FAT2 in HBV-associated iCCA PMID:25526346

Therapeutic relevance

  • No direct therapeutic targeting of ALKBH5 reported in the corpus; context is mechanistic (HBV integration) rather than directly actionable.

Open questions

  • Whether HBV integration near ALKBH5 functionally upregulates or dysregulates its m6A demethylase activity in iCCA is not established from the corpus.
  • Broader prevalence of ALKBH5 integration events across HBV-associated liver cancers requires further investigation.

Sources

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