The Role of m6A-RNA Methylation in the Development, Progression, and Treatment Response of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Bladder cancer (BCa) remains a significant clinical challenge because of high recurrence rates and variable response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent studies have highlighted the role of N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification in RNA in the regulation of various cellular processes, including tumor progression and drug resistance. The review examines the impact of m⁶A methylation on BCa pathogenesis, with a particular special focus on the role of m⁶A pathway factors and m⁶A-modified RNAs in tumorigenesis, proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. The mechanisms of m⁶A-mediated chemotherapy resistance in BCa cells are discussed, including single nucleotide polymorphisms in m⁶A-associated patterns. Significant advances in the high-throughput analysis of m⁶A methylation have enabled development of novel m⁶A-based biomarkers for the risk assessment, early diagnostics, and prediction of relapse and treatment response in BCa. The review outlines the prospects of the m⁶A-based molecular diagnostics in BCa.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine; biomarker; bladder cancer (BCa); m⁶A; prognosis.