Roles of FTO in cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutic targeting

N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A), the most abundant mRNA modification, is dynamically regulated by the "writer–eraser–reader" system. Within this system, FTO constitutes a core component of the m 6 A demethylase enzymes. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that FTO plays pivotal roles in various cancer types through its m 6 A demethylase activity. While the implications of m 6 A modifications in cancer pathogenesis have been extensively reviewed, the critical functions of FTO across diverse malignancies and its potential as a therapeutic target remain less explored. This review summarizes current evidence on the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of FTO in different cancers, elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms, and discusses the potential for targeting FTO therapeutically.