N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) in pancreatic cancer: Regulatory mechanisms and future direction
Jian Li, Fangjuan Wang, Yongkang Liu, Huaizhi Wang, Bing Ni
Abstract
N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A), the most abundant RNA modification in eukaryotes, plays a pivotal role in regulating many cellular and biological processes. Aberrant m 6 A 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 m 6 A regulatory factors, such as methyltransferases, demethylases, and m 6 A-binding proteins, profoundly affects the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. In addition, m 6 A regulators and m 6 A 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 m 6 A in pancreatic cancer and discuss the potential of m 6 A modification in clinical applications.