RNA epitranscriptomics represents a recently identified layer of regulation of genetic information. As the most abundant internal mRNA modification, m⁶A is critical for the regulation of mRNA metabolisms and impacts various biological and pathological processes.
 
The discovery of the fat-mass- and obesity-associated protein (FTO) as an m⁶A demethylase corroborates the m⁶A modification as a dynamic process. Recently, evidences prove that FTO is overexpressed in certain subtypes of apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia (AMLs) and promotes leukemogenesis. Thus, the development of effective inhibitors to target FTO's aberrant m⁶A demethylase activity is in urgent need for leukemia therapy.  
 
To address this urgent issue, researchers have identified a potential therapy for the acute myeloid leukemia by targeting the oncogenic RNA demethylase FTO through a joint study. The finding was published in Cancer Cell.  

Previously, the team had identified Meclofenamic Acid (MA) as a selective inhibitor of FTO demethylation over ALKBH5. However, the activity and selectivity of MA limited its uses in the study of biological functions of FTO demethylase.  

After years of efforts, scientists developed successfully two selective FTO inhibitors through structure-based rational designs and chemical synthesis, namely FB23 and FB23-2, which efficiently reverse/suppress FTO-mediated aberrant epitranscriptome in AML cells.  

In line with the regulation of FTO on downstream target genes, FB23 and FB23-2 treatment increased significantly the ASB2 and RARA while decreased the MYC and CEBPA abundance in an m⁶A modification-dependent manner in NB4 and MONOMAC6 cells.  

Moreover, FB23-2 displayed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and exhibited therapeutic efficacy in treating a patient-derived xeno-transplantation AML mouse model. Importantly, this proof-of-concept study demonstrated that small molecules targeting oncogenic FTO demethylase may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AML.  

However, due to the activity and selectivity of inhibitors, target engagement of current inhibitors needs further explorations. As FTO-mediated demethylation has also been linked to a variety of cancer types, the findings may have a broad impact on cancer therapy by targeting epitranscriptomic RNA methylation. 
 
http://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/201907/t20190709_212816.shtml

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1535610819301515?via%3Dihub#abs0020