The role of RNA 2′-O-methylation in prostate cancer

Abstract

2′-O-methylation (Nm) represents a pervasive RNA modification occurring in multiple RNA species, including messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). This chemical mark exerts critical regulatory functions in RNA stability, transcriptional control, and translational efficiency. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled transcriptome-wide mapping of Nm sites, uncovering increasing evidence that aberrant Nm modifications contribute to oncogenesis and tumor progression. Prostate cancer, the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men in the United States, has emerged as a disease context in which dysregulated Nm-related pathways are of particular significance. As sequencing-based investigations continue to expand, delineating the activities of Nm-modifying enzymes across distinct RNA classes in prostate cancer is anticipated to provide mechanistic insights into disease biology, facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, and ultimately guide the development of Nm-centered anticancer strategies.