Role, mechanism, and application of N6-methyladenosine in hepatobiliary carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatobiliary carcinoma is a frequently occurring and highly invasive cancer within the digestive tract, known for its rapid progression. Due to its difficult diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice, hepatobiliary carcinoma is a serious threat to human life and health. In recent years, the incidence of hepatobiliary carcinoma has gradually increased. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as a reversible post-transcriptional modification of the adenosine N6 site, is one of the most important RNA modifications in eukaryotes. Emerging research indicates that m6A affects the biological process of cells through the regulation of gene expression. m6A modification also plays a key role in the occurrence and development of various cancers. This review summarizes the role and mechanism of m6A modification in hepatobiliary carcinoma, and discussed its potential clinical application, so as to provide a theoretical reference for the individualized treatment of hepatobiliary carcinoma.

Keywords: Hepatobiliary carcinoma; RNA modification; N6-methyladenosine; Therapeutic targets; Treatment

Core Tip: N6-methyladenine (m6A) modifications is one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, and it has been reported to affect biological process of cells via regulation of gene expression, and play a crucial role in occurrence and development in various cancers by regulating RNA stability, decay, spicing and transport. This article summarized the role and mechanism of m6A modification in hepatobiliary carcinoma, and discussed its potential clinical application in an attempt to provide theoretical evidences for the individualized treatment of hepatobiliary carcinoma.