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Published on: September 20, 2016

RNA modifications in cancer: regulators of tumor evolution and therapeutic response

Xinyu Gu1, Yuting He2, Ziyi Xu1

  • 1The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24 Jinghua Road, Jianxi District, Luoyang, Henan, 471000, China.

Molecular Cancer
|July 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

RNA modifications like m6A regulate gene expression and are key in cancer. Understanding epitranscriptomic reprogramming offers new anti-tumor strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Epitranscriptomics and Cancer Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • RNA modifications, including m6A, m1A, m5C, m7G, Ψ, and A-to-I editing, form a dynamic epitranscriptomic network.
  • Dysregulation of these RNA modifications is a recognized hallmark of various cancers.
  • This network profoundly influences RNA metabolism and gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize the roles of RNA modifications in tumor biology, connecting epitranscriptomic mapping to functional insights.
  • To evaluate how RNA modification enzymes (writers, readers, erasers) impact transcript stability and translation, driving tumor evolution.
  • To explore the interplay between RNA modifications and the tumor immune microenvironment, including immune evasion and checkpoint regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and critical synthesis of existing literature on RNA modifications in cancer.
  • Evaluation of mechanisms by which epitranscriptomic reprogramming affects tumor progression and response to therapies.
  • Analysis of the intersection between RNA modifications, tumor immunity, and therapeutic outcomes.

Main Results:

  • RNA modification enzymes critically control transcript fate, influencing tissue-specific tumor development.
  • Epitranscriptomic alterations play significant roles in immune evasion, antigen presentation, and immune checkpoint modulation.
  • Reprogramming of epitranscriptomes dictates cellular responses to diverse cancer treatments, including chemo-, radio-, targeted-, and immunotherapies.

Conclusions:

  • RNA modifications are integral to cancer development and progression across various malignancies.
  • Targeting epitranscriptomic pathways presents a promising avenue for novel anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research into epitranscriptomics can bridge the gap to clinical applications for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
CancerRNA modificationsTherapeutic responsem5Cm6A

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