RNA N 6-Methyladenosine in Cancer Metastasis: Roles, Mechanisms, and Applications

Qin Dang; Bo Shao; Quanbo Zhou; Chen Chen; Yaxin Guo; Guixian Wang; Jinbo Liu; Quancheng Kan; Weitang Yuan; Zhenqiang Sun

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.681781

RNA N ⁶-Methyladenosine in Cancer Metastasis: Roles, Mechanisms, and Applications

Front Oncol. 2021 Jun 15:11:681781. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.681781. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Qin Dang¹, Bo Shao^{1

2}, Quanbo Zhou¹, Chen Chen^{2

3}, Yaxin Guo^{2

4

5}, Guixian Wang¹, Jinbo Liu¹, Quancheng Kan⁶, Weitang Yuan¹, Zhenqiang Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
² Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
³ School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Basic Medical, Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁵ Henan Academy of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁶ Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

Cancer metastasis is a symptom of adverse prognosis, a prime origin of therapy failure, and a lethal challenge for cancer patients. N ⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), the most prevailing modification in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) of higher eukaryotes, has attracted increasing attention. Growing studies have verified the pivotal roles of m⁶A methylation in controlling mRNAs and ncRNAs in diverse physiological processes. Remarkably, recent findings have showed that aberrant methylation of m⁶A-related RNAs could influence cancer metastasis. In this review, we illuminate how m⁶A modifiers act on mRNAs and ncRNAs and modulate metastasis in several cancers, and put forward the clinical application prospects of m⁶A methylation.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine methylation; cancer metastasis; clinical applications; mRNAs; non-coding RNAs.

Publication types

Review