m6A mRNA methylation initiated by METTL14 promotes STK11 translation and increases STK11 activity to induce anti-HER2 therapy resistance in breast cancer

Abstract

Resistance to HER2-targeted therapies presents a major challenge in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays a critical role in tumor progression; however, its role in mediating resistance to anti-HER2 therapy remains poorly defined. In trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer tissues, METTL14 expression is significantly upregulated and correlates with poor trastuzumab response. Moreover, our data suggest that the transcription factor RAD21 directly regulates METTL14 expression by binding to its promoter region. Elevated METTL14 expression enhances resistance to HER2-targeted therapies, while METTL14 knockdown restores trastuzumab sensitivity in resistant breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, METTL14 facilitates m6A methylation of STK11 mRNA, increasing its stability in an m6A-dependent manner, thereby contributing to resistance. Taken together, our findings define a novel RAD21-METTL14-STK11 axis that drives trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer and highlight potential therapeutic targets for overcoming treatment failure.