Among more than 100 types of identified RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the predominant mRNA modification, which regulates RNA splicing, translocation, stability, and translation. m6A modification plays critical roles in the growth, differentiation, and metabolism of cells. As a dynamic and reversible modification, m6A is catalyzed by "writers" (RNA methyltransferases), removed by "erasers" (demethylases), and interacts with "readers" (m6A-binding proteins). With more advanced technology applied to research, the molecular mechanisms of RNA methyltransferase, demethylase, and m6A-binding protein have been revealed. An increasing number of studies have implicated the correlation between m6A modification and human cancers. In this review, we summarize that the occurrence and development of various human cancers are associated with aberrant m6A modification. We also discuss the progress in research related to m6A modification, providing novel therapeutic insight and potential breakthrough in anticancer therapy.
Keywords: cancer; epigenetics; m(6)A; tumor suppressor.
Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.