Recent advances of m(6)A methylation modification in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

In recent years, with the development of RNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods, the epigenetic modification of RNA based on N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) has gradually become a research hotspot in the field of bioscience. m(6)A is the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs). m(6)A methylation modification can dynamically and reversibly regulate RNA transport, localization, translation and degradation through the interaction of methyltransferase, demethylase and reading protein. m(6)A methylation can regulate the expression of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes at the epigenetic modification level to affect tumor occurrence and metastasis. The morbidity and mortality of esophageal cancer (EC) are still high worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common tissue subtype of EC. This article reviews the related concepts, biological functions and recent advances of m(6)A methylation in ESCC, and looks forward to the prospect of m(6)A methylation as a new diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ESCC.