The emerging significance of the METTL family as m6A-modified RNA methyltransferases in head and neck cancer

Abstract

RNA epigenetic modifications are crucial in tumor development, with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) being the most prevalent epigenetic modification found in all eukaryotic messenger RNAs. Accumulating evidence indicates that m6A modifications significantly influence the progression of various malignancies, including head and neck cancer (HNC). The Methyltransferase-like (METTL) family proteins, a group of methyltransferases identified in recent years, function as the “writers” of m6A modifications. These proteins affect RNA stability, translation efficiency, splicing, and localization, thereby regulating diverse cellular functions and promoting tumorigenesis in multiple cancers through their methylation domains. This review aims to summarize existing literature on the METTL family of m6A-modified RNA to elucidate their roles in HNC, providing a theoretical foundation for their potential use as therapeutic targets.