The Role of m6A-RNA Methylation in the Development, Progression, and Treatment Response of Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer (BCa) remains a significant clinical challenge because of high recurrence rates and variable response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent studies have highlighted the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in RNA in the regulation of various cellular processes, including tumor progression and drug resistance. The review examines the impact of m6A methylation on BCa pathogenesis, with a particular special focus on the role of m6A pathway factors and m6A-modified RNAs in tumorigenesis, proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. The mechanisms of m6A-mediated chemotherapy resistance in BCa cells are discussed, including single nucleotide polymorphisms in m6A-associated patterns. Significant advances in the high-throughput analysis of m6A methylation have enabled development of novel m6A-based biomarkers for the risk assessment, early diagnostics, and prediction of relapse and treatment response in BCa. The review outlines the prospects of the m6A-based molecular diagnostics in BCa.