m6A Modification in Coding and Non-coding RNAs: Roles and Therapeutic Implications in Cancer.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has emerged in recent years as a new layer of regulatory mechanism controlling gene expression in eukaryotes. As a reversible epigenetic modification found not only in messenger RNAs but also in non-coding RNAs, m6A affects the fate of the modified RNA molecules and plays important roles in almost all vital bioprocesses, including cancer development. Here we review the up-to-date knowledge of the pathological roles and underlying molecular mechanism of m6A modifications (in both coding and non-coding RNAs) in cancer pathogenesis and drug response/resistance, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting m6A regulators for cancer therapy.