N6-Methyladenosine: A Potential Breakthrough for Human Cancer

Abstract 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 researches, molecular mechanisms of RNA methyltransferase, demethylase and m6A-binding protein have been revealed. An increasing number of researches have implicated the correlation between m6A modification and human cancers. Here, we summarize that the occurrence and development of various human cancers are associated with aberrant m6A modification. We also discuss the progress in researches related to m6A modification, providing novel therapeutic insight and potential breakthrough in anticancer therapy.