RNA N⁶-methyladenosine modification in cancers: current status and perspectives

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs), has been shown to play critical roles in various normal bioprocesses such as tissue development, stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, heat shock or DNA damage response, and maternal-to-zygotic transition. The m⁶A modification is deposited by the m⁶A methyltransferase complex (MTC; i.e., writer) composed of METTL3, METTL14 and WTAP, and probably also VIRMA and RBM15, and can be removed by m⁶A demethylases (i.e., erasers) such as FTO and ALKBH5. The fates of m⁶A-modified mRNAs rely on the functions of distinct proteins that recognize them (i.e., readers), which may affect the stability, splicing, and/or translation of target mRNAs. Given the functional importance of the m⁶A modification machinery in normal bioprocesses, it is not surprising that evidence is emerging that dysregulation of m⁶A modification and the associated proteins also contributes to the initiation, progression, and drug response of cancers. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the study of biological functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of dysregulated m⁶A modification and the associated machinery in the pathogenesis and drug response of various types of cancers. In addition, we also discuss possible therapeutic interventions against the dysregulated m⁶A machinery to treat cancers.