Current cancer drug targets
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Curr Cancer Drug Targets · Jan 2021
The Impacts of Non-coding RNAs and N6-Methyladenosine on Cancer: Past, Present, and Future.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications control multifaceted RNA metabolism and are one of the most extensively distributed modifications on the human transcriptome, including non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Previous concepts of ncRNAs as "junk" transcriptional products have evolved to the concept that ncRNAs are functional regulatory molecules that determine specific biological processes and cell fates. The dysregulation of m6A modifications and ncRNAs have been implicated in the development of human carcinogenesis. ⋯ This review discusses mutual interactions between m6A modifications and ncRNAs and their impacts on the development of human cancer. We summarize the clinical significance of m6A-ncRNA networks for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and we ask challenging questions that remain unanswered in this field of research. Understanding the complex coordination between m6A modifications and ncRNAs will be useful for guiding the development of therapeutic interventions.