The role of m6A RNA methylation in human cancer

N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is identified as the most common, abundant and conserved internal transcriptional modification, especially within eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs). M(6)A modification is installed by the m(6)A methyltransferases (METTL3/14, WTAP, RBM15/15B and KIAA1429, termed as writers), reverted by the demethylases (FTO and ALKBH5, termed as erasers) and recognized by m(6)A binding proteins (YTHDF1/2/3, IGF2BP1 and HNRNPA2B1, termed as readers). Acumulating evidence shows that, m(6)A RNA methylation has an outsize effect on RNA production/metabolism and participates in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases including cancers. Until now, the molecular mechanisms underlying m(6)A RNA methylation in various tumors have not been comprehensively clarified. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent advances in biological function of m(6)A modifications in human cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic strategies.