The crucial role of m6A methylation modification in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy originating from the nasopharyngeal mucosa and represents one of the most prevalent malignant tumors globally. RNA modifications function as a key epigenetic regulatory mechanism, governing post-transcriptional gene regulation. Among these, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA and plays a pivotal role in regulating RNA transcription, splicing, stability, and translation. Extensive research has demonstrated that m6A modification regulates the expression of numerous oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and is closely associated with cancer initiation and progression. Notably, regulators of m6A methylation exhibit aberrant expression in NPC tissues, and their dysregulation is closely linked to tumor development and therapeutic resistance. This evidence suggests their potential as molecular targets for NPC diagnosis and treatment. This review examines the pivotal role of m6A in NPC, encompassing its influence on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, it explores recent advances in the application of m6A for NPC diagnosis and molecularly targeted therapy, and summarises current techniques for detecting m6A modifications.