The Role of RNA Methyltransferase METTL3 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results and Perspectives

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 6th most prevalent cancer and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Mechanisms explaining the carcinogenesis of HCC are not clear yet. In recent years, rapid development of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification provides a fresh approach to disclosing this mystery. As the most prevalent mRNA modification in eukaryotes, m6A modification is capable to post-transcriptionally affect RNA splicing, stability, and translation, thus participating in a variety of biological and pathological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, tumor invasion and metastasis. METTL3 has been recognized as a pivotal methyltransferase and essential to the performance of m6A modification. METTL3 can regulate RNA expression in a m6A-dependent manner and contribute to the carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and drug resistance of HCC. In the present review, we are going to make a clear summary of the known roles of METTL3 in HCC, and explicitly narrate the potential mechanisms for these roles.