Interplay between DNA and RNA methylation shapes cancer cell plasticity.

Abstract

Cellular plasticity refers to the ability of healthy cells to shift between phenotypic states and modify their characteristics to maintain tissue homeostasis and integrity. In the tumor context, cancer stem cells (CSCs) exploit this flexibility to withstand stress, facilitate tumor dissemination, and evade therapeutic interventions. Epigenetic regulation, particularly DNA methylation at CpG sites, is recognized as a well-known driver of tumor plasticity by repressing differentiation programs through modulation of chromatin accessibility. More recently, RNA modifications (epitranscriptomics) have emerged as crucial post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that shape RNA fate and function. Among these, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), and N7-methylguanosine (m7G) contribute to the regulation of cell identity by modulating stemness-differentiation balance, stress adaptation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, dysregulation of both DNA and RNA methylation signatures is frequently observed in tumors, suggesting potential functional interactions between these regulatory layers. Emerging evidence indicates that DNA CpG methylation and RNA methylation pathways may cooperate to influence stemness, survival, and EMT-associated signaling, thereby supporting CSCs' plasticity. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying this crosstalk remain incompletely understood, accumulating studies suggest that DNA and RNA methylation could converge within interconnected regulatory networks that contribute to the control of cancer cell identity. A deeper understanding of these interactions may uncover novel vulnerabilities for targeting tumor plasticity. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the interplay between DNA and RNA methylation in regulating tumor plasticity, highlighting emerging mechanistic insights, functional interactions, and potential implications for future epigenetic and epitranscriptomic therapeutic strategies.