N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) in pancreatic cancer: Regulatory mechanisms and future direction.

ABSTRACT: N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), the most abundant RNA modification in eukaryotes, plays a pivotal role in regulating many cellular and biological processes. Aberrant m⁶A modification has recently been involved in carcinogenesis in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. It is a heterogeneous malignant disease characterized by a plethora of diverse genetic and epigenetic events. Increasing evidence suggests that dysregulation of m⁶A regulatory factors, such as methyltransferases, demethylases, and m⁶A-binding proteins, profoundly affects the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. In addition, m⁶A regulators and m⁶A target transcripts may be promising early diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets. In this review, we highlight the biological functions and mechanisms of m⁶A in pancreatic cancer and discuss the potential of m⁶A modification in clinical applications.

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8241726 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature