Epitranscriptomics and RNA structure in cancer

This Collection on "Epitranscriptomics and RNA Structure in Cancer” brings together a collection of cutting-edge research articles and reviews exploring the interplay between RNA chemical modifications and structural conformations in cancer biology.

Key themes include the mechanistic roles of prominent RNA modifications such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), pseudouridine (Ψ), and adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing in regulating oncogenic pathways. These modifications dynamically influence the entire life cycle of RNA from transcription to degradation and plays critical roles in tumor progression. Equally intriguing is the emerging role of RNA structure, such as hairpins, and G-quadruplexes in modulating RNA stability and functions. Recent studies demonstrate how epitranscriptomic modifications and RNA structures promote cancer development and therapeutic resistance. This issue highlights cutting edge research elucidating how RNA modifications and structural elements individually and cooperatively regulate cancer-relevant phenotypes.

Advanced technologies, including high-throughput sequencing, direct RNA modification mapping, and RNA structural probing, are driving this field forward. We invite original research articles and scholarly reviews showcasing how these tools are uncovering previously unrecognized regulatory mechanisms in cancer biology. This Collection will also explore the translational potential of targeting epitranscriptomic pathways and RNA structural elements in offering new avenues for precision oncology.