Methylation marks breast cancer metastasis: The roles of m6A-modified miRNAs and lncRNAs

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of death in women, with metastasis accounting for most of these fatalities. The mechanism of breast cancer metastasis has not been well understood. Recent research shows that chemical modifications added to RNA molecules after they are made, specifically the addition of a methyl group on the N6 position of an adenosine (N6-methyladenosine), play a crucial role in how cancer develops, adapts, and resists therapy. This review covers recent advances in understanding how these modifications regulate two major groups of regulatory RNAs, microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs. Our review highlights that methylation can alter the production, stability, and activity of these RNAs specifically in the context of breast cancer, influencing cell growth, migration, invasion, and resistance to chemotherapy, all of which are key processes in metastasis. We discuss how changes in RNA methylation, regulated by enzymes that add, remove, or recognize these marks, help breast cancer cells adapt to their environment, evade immune detection, and colonize new tissues. The evidence strongly suggests that RNA methylation and its control of regulatory RNAs drive breast cancer progression and survival. Targeting these pathways may allow for more precise diagnostic tests, risk prediction, and development of new treatments. However, further research is required to unravel how these modifications interact with other cellular processes and to translate these findings into effective therapies.