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The m7G RNA modification in gastrointestinal cancers: mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Rui Li1, Xiaoqing Lu1, Zhiyu Guan2

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery, Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics,Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Cancer Biology & Medicine
|April 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification is vital in gastrointestinal cancers. This epigenetic change impacts tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapies, offering potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is an epigenetic modification regulating gene expression.
  • m7G is mediated by enzyme complexes like METTL1/WDR4 and WBSCR22/TRMT12.
  • This modification is found across various RNA types (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, non-coding RNA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of m7G modification in gastrointestinal (GI) malignant tumors.
  • To explore the association between abnormal m7G expression and GI cancer pathogenesis.
  • To evaluate the potential of m7G as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in GI cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on m7G modification in GI cancers.
  • Analysis of the mechanisms by which m7G influences oncogene translation and therapy resistance.
  • Examination of the role of m7G in regulating key signaling pathways (e.g., EGFR) and cellular processes (e.g., autophagy, DNA repair).

Main Results:

  • Abnormal m7G expression is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal cancer.
  • The METTL1/WDR4 complex promotes oncogene translation via tRNA m7G modification, driving tumor proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance.
  • m7G modification impacts resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation by modulating EGFR signaling, autophagy, and DNA repair.

Conclusions:

  • m7G modification plays a critical role in the development and progression of GI malignancies.
  • m7G modification influences tumor cell resistance to various cancer treatments.
  • m7G modification holds significant potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for precision medicine in GI oncology.
Keywords:
Gastrointestinal cancersMETTL1/WDR4WBSCR22/TRMT112drug resistancem7G modification

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