Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of epitranscriptome regulation in cancer

Post-transcriptional regulation is an indispensable cellular mechanism of gene expression control that dictates various cellular functions and cell fate decisions. Recently, various chemical RNA modifications, termed the “epitranscriptome,” have been proposed to play crucial roles in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression. To date, more than 170 RNA modifications have been identified in almost all types of RNA. As with DNA modification-mediated control of gene expression, regulation of gene expression via RNA modification is also accomplished by three groups of proteins: writers, readers, and erasers. Several emerging studies have revealed that dysregulation in RNA modification is closely associated with tumorigenesis. Notably, the molecular outcomes of specific RNA modifications often have opposite cellular consequences. In this review, we highlight the current progress in the elucidation of the mechanisms of cancer development due to chemical modifications of various RNA species.