Title:The Impacts of Non-coding RNAs and N6-Methyladenosine on Cancer: Past, Present and Future
Volume: 21
Issue: 5
Author(s): Zhaoyuan Xu, Guohua Ji, Ying Cui and Xiaobo Cui*
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin,China
Keywords:
N6-methyladenosine, miRNA, LncRNA, CircRNA, PiRNA, non-coding RNA, cancer.
Abstract: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications control multifaceted RNA metabolism and are one of the
most extensively distributed modifications on the human transcriptome, including non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
Previous concepts of ncRNAs as “junk” transcriptional products have evolved to the concept that ncRNAs
are functional regulatory molecules that determine specific biological processes and cell fates. The dysregulation
of m6A modifications and ncRNAs have been implicated in the development of human carcinogenesis.
Certain types of ncRNAs have been reported to exert regulatory effects on m6A machinery. However, a better
understanding of the relationship between m6A modifications and ncRNAs in cancer is still needed. This review
discusses mutual interactions between m6A modifications and ncRNAs and their impacts on the development
of human cancer. We summarize the clinical significance of m6A-ncRNA networks for cancer diagnosis
and treatment, and we ask challenging questions that remain unanswered in this field of research. Understanding
the complex coordination between m6A modifications and ncRNAs will be useful for guiding the development
of therapeutic interventions.