Regulation of m⁶A (N⁶-Methyladenosine) methylation modifiers in solid cancers

Solid cancers constitute a tremendous burden on global healthcare, requiring a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression. Epigenetic changes, notably N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA methylation, have emerged as important contributors to the biology of solid tumors in recent years. This epigenetic mark dynamically affects gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and modulates a variety of cellular processes, making it a focus of research in the context of solid tumors. m⁶A modification patterns are dysregulated in a variety of solid cancers, including ovarian, breast, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, and others. This dysregulated m⁶A landscape has been shown to induce significant changes in the expression of oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and genes involved in cancer stem cells, metastasis, and treatment resistance. In solid tumors, the interaction of m⁶A "writers" (e.g., METTL3, METTL14, and others), "erasers" (e.g., ALKBH5, FTO), and "readers" (e.g., members of YTHDF proteins and others) delicately changes the m⁶A methylome. Targeting m⁶A regulators as a potential therapeutic method to control gene expression and prevent tumor development seems a novel strategy. To enhance treatment results, advances in this area of research have led to the development of targeted treatments aiming at restoring or altering m⁶A alteration patterns in solid tumors.