Epitranscriptomics and cervical cancer - the emerging role of m6A, m5C and m1A RNA modifications

Sep 22, 2026

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Cervical cancer (CC) arises from genetic and epigenetic alterations that promote oncogenic signaling while disabling tumor-suppressing pathways. Despite therapeutic progress, advanced-stage outcomes remain poor due to frequent recurrence and resistance. This narrative review explains how epitranscriptomic, reversible RNA modifications—mediated by endogenous RNA-editing proteins—shape CC development, progression, and metastasis, focusing on m6A, m5C, and m1A and their control over more than 50 tumor-related RNAs. It also outlines treatment opportunities targeting altered RNA-editing proteins and abnormal RNA modification deposition on coding and non-coding RNAs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Epigenetic and genetic drivers in cervical cancer

Tools for studying epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms

Epitranscriptomic modifications and RNA-editing proteins

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine [cambridge.org/erm](cambridge.org/erm) Review Cite this article: Modi AD, Zahid H, Southerland AC, Modi DM (2024) . Epitranscriptomics and cervical cancer: the emerging role of m6A, m5C and m1A RNA modifications. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine 26, e20, 1–20. [https://doi.org/](https://doi.org/)[ ](https://doi.org/)[10.1017/erm.2024.20](10.1017/erm.2024.20) Received: 1 July 2023 Revised: 18 April 2024 Accepted: 25 June 2024 Keywords: anti-cancer therapies; cervical cancer; diagnostic biomarkers; epitranscriptomics; gene expression; m1A; m5C; m6A; RNA modifications; RNA-editing proteins Corresponding author: Akshat D. Modi; [Email:](Email: Akshat.Modi@mail.utoronto.ca)[ Akshat.Modi@mail.utoronto.ca](Email: Akshat.Modi@mail.utoronto.ca) © The Author(s), 2024 . Published by Cambridge University Press. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. Epitranscriptomics and cervical cancer: the emerging role of m6A, m5 C and m 1A RNA modifications Akshat D. Modi1 , Hira Zahid2, Ashlyn Chase Southerland3 and Dharmeshkumar M. Modi4 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Canada; 2Department of Biology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada; 3Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, USA and 4Department of Pharmacy, Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad, India Abstract Cervical cancer (CC), one of the most prevalent and detrimental gynaecologic cancers, evolves through genetic and epigenetic alterations resulting in the promotion of oncogenic activity and dysfunction of tumour-suppressing mechanisms. Despite medical advancement, the prognosis for advanced-stage patients remains extremely low due to high recurrence ratesand resistance to existing treatments. Thereby, the search for potential prognostic biomarkers is heightened to unravel new modalities of CC pathogenesis and to develop novel anti-cancer therapies. Epitranscriptomic modifications, reversible epigenetic RNA modifications, regulate various biological processes by deciding RNA fate to mediating RNA interactions. This narrative review provides insight into the cellular and molecular roles of endogenous RNA-editing proteins and their associated epitranscriptomic modifications, especially N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and N1-methyladenosine (m 1A), in governing the development, progression and metastasis of CC. We discussed the in-depth epitranscriptomic mechanisms underlying the regulation of over 50 RNAs responsible for tumorigenesis, proliferation, migration, invasion, survival, autophagy, stemness, epithelialmesenchymal transition, metabolism (glucose, lipid, glutamate and glutamine), resistance (drug and radiation), angiogenesis and recurrence of CC. Additionally, we provided a concise overview of the therapeutic potential of targeting the altered expression of endogenous RNA-editing proteins and aberrant deposition of RNA modifications on both coding and non-coding RNAs in CC. Introduction Gynaecologic cancers encompass life-threatening malignancies that can affect the vulva, vagina, cervix and uterus, with the potential to spread to other organs associated with the functioning of the female reproductive system (Refs 1, 2, 3) . In particular, carcinomas of the cervix, ovaries and endometrium are the most prevalent gynaecologic cancers, collectively representing 95% of all diagnosed cases (Ref. 4) . Cervical cancer (CC), comprising highly prevalent squamous cell carcinoma and rare adenocarcinomas, is the leading cause of gynaecologic cancer-related deaths among women, primarily affecting those between the ages of 35 and 44 (Refs 4, 5) . CC currently pr

FAQs

Why is cervical cancer prognosis still poor for advanced-stage patients?

Advanced-stage patients face extremely low prognoses due to high recurrence rates and resistance to existing treatments.

What epitranscriptomic RNA modifications are highlighted in this review?

The review focuses on N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) and their roles in cervical cancer.

How do endogenous RNA-editing proteins influence cervical cancer progression?

Endogenous RNA-editing proteins regulate epitranscriptomic modifications through “writers,” “erasers,” and related mechanisms, shaping RNA fate and downstream processes driving tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance.

Sep 22, 2026

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