Novel insights into the interplay between m6A modification and noncoding RNAs in cancer

Abstract

AbstractN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, mainly in messenger RNA (mRNA). Increasing evidence shows that m6A methylation modification acts an essential role in various physiological and pathological bioprocesses. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, are known to participate in regulating cell differentiation, angiogenesis, immune response, inflammatory response and carcinogenesis. m6A regulators, such as METTL3, ALKBH5 and IGF2BP1 have been reported to execute a m6A-dependent modification of ncRNAs involved in carcinogenesis. Meanwhile, ncRNAs can target or modulate m6A regulators to influence cancer development. In this review, we provide an insight into the interplay between m6A modification and ncRNAs in cancer.