Topics and Trends in Most Cited RNA modifications and cancer Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited RNA modifications and cancer research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 highlights a strategic shift in cancer epitranscriptomics from global m6A cataloging toward non-m6A modifications like m5C and m7G. Research increasingly connects key regulatory machinery—notably FTO, METTL3, and NSUN2—to mRNA stability, ferroptosis resistance, lactylation, and metabolic vulnerabilities in gastrointestinal and liver cancers.

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Updated July 22, 2026

At a glance

Field
RNA modifications and cancer
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
13,650
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
m6A modification, mRNA stability, 5-methylcytosine (m5C), MeRIP-seq, ferroptosis
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
47–128
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#2 of 13,650
10618m citations

Lactylation‐Driven IGF2BP3‐Mediated Serine Metabolism Reprogramming and RNA m6A—Modification Promotes Lenvatinib Resistance in HCC

Yuanxiang Lu et al.Advanced Science202410.1002/advs.202401399

Jianping Zhao, Changzhen Shang, Huifang Liang, Wanguang ZhangHuazhong University of Science and Technology, China

lenvatinib resistancehepatocellular carcinomalactylationIGF2BP3PCK2NRF2metabolic reprogrammingm6AS-adenosylmethionine (SAM)glycolysislactateantioxidant defense systemlactylated IGF2BP3-PCK2-SAM-m6A loop2-DG (glycolysis inhibitor)siRNA targeting IGF2BP3liposome deliverymetabolic adaptationepigenetic remodelingmolecular-targeted therapy resistance
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#3 of 13,650
10518m citations

Methylation of GPRC5A promotes liver metastasis and docetaxel resistance through activating mTOR signaling pathway in triple negative breast cancer

Xueqi Ou et al.Drug Resistance Updates202410.1016/j.drup.2024.101063

Rongfang He, Yuehua Li, Hailin TangSun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China

GPRC5Atriple negative breast cancerliver metastasisdocetaxel resistancem6AMETTL3YTHDF1mTOR signaling pathwaymTORC1p70s6kLAMTOR1single-cell RNA sequencingMeRIP-sequbiquitination-dependent degradationlysosomal recruitmentchemoresistance
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#5 of 13,650
7618m citations

Metabolic Recoding of NSUN2‐Mediated m<sup>5</sup>C Modification Promotes the Progression of Colorectal Cancer via the NSUN2/YBX1/m<sup>5</sup>C‐ENO1 Positive Feedback Loop

Baoxiang Chen et al.Advanced Science202410.1002/advs.202309840

Xiaoyu Xie, Xianghai Ren, Jianhong Zhao, Congqing JiangZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, China

5-methylcytosine (m5C)NSUN2YBX1ENO1colorectal cancerm5C writerm5C readermetabolic reprogramminglactateH3K18laNSUN2 K356 lactylationNSUN2/YBX1/m5C-ENO1 positive feedback looppost-transcriptional regulationepigenetic remodelingRNA modificationNSUN2 inhibitorcombination immunotherapyoncogenic functionlactylation-mediated transcriptional activation
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#6 of 13,650
7418m citations

Prediction of m6A and m5C at single-molecule resolution reveals a transcriptome-wide co-occurrence of RNA modifications

A J Sethi, A Ravindran, A Srivastava et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-47953-7

Nikolay E. Shirokikh, Eduardo EyrasAustralian National University, Australia

CHEUIm6A5-methylcytosine (m5C)epitranscriptomicssingle-molecule resolutionnanopore direct RNA sequencingionic current signalRNA modification stoichiometrydifferential methylationco-occurrence of RNA modificationstranscript-site predictionsynthetic RNA standardsmulti-modification detection
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#7 of 13,650
7018m citations

Ultrafast bisulfite sequencing detection of 5-methylcytosine in DNA and RNA

Qing Dai, Chang Ye, Iryna Irkliyenko, Yiding Wang et al.Nature Biotechnology202410.1038/s41587-023-02034-w

Qing Dai, Chuan HeThe University of Chicago, United States

RNA bisulfite sequencingUBS-seq5-methylcytosine (m5C)C-to-U conversioncell-free DNAmouse embryonic stem cellsm5C stoichiometryhighly structured RNA sequencesNSUN2HeLa mRNA5'-regions of mammalian mRNAmRNA translationDNA damage reductionlow-input library construction
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#8 of 13,650
6918m citations

RNA m5C oxidation by TET2 regulates chromatin state and leukaemogenesis

Zhongyu Zou, Xiaoyang Dou, Ying Li et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07969-x

Mingjiang Xu, Chuan HeThe University of Chicago, United States

TET2RNA m5C oxidationchromatin state regulationmyeloid malignancyMBD6H2AK119ub deubiquitinationretrotransposon RNADNA 5-methylcytosine oxidationhaematopoietic stem cell self-renewalchromatin accessibilitymethyl-CpG-binding-domain proteinmonoubiquitinated Lys119 of histone H2ATET2-mutant leukaemiaTET2 deficiencygene activation pathwayleukemogenesishaematopoiesis defectstherapeutic target
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#10 of 13,650
6118m citations

NSUN2 lactylation drives cancer cell resistance to ferroptosis through enhancing GCLC-dependent glutathione synthesis

Kaifeng Niu et al.Redox Biology202410.1016/j.redox.2024.103479

Kaifeng NiuChina National Center for Bioinformation, China

NSUN2lactylationferroptosis resistanceGCLCglutathione synthesism5C formationmRNA stabilitylipid peroxidationdoxorubicingastric cancerNSUN2 K508R mutantGCLC C-A mutantNAA10lactytransferaselactate treatmenttumor microenvironmentNAA10-NSUN2-GCLC axisGSH levels
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#11 of 13,650
6018m citations

ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification of IL-11 drives macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition and pathological cardiac fibrosis in mice

Tao Zhuang, Mei-Hua Chen et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-46357-x

Li Zhang, Wei Lü, Guannan Zhang, Junli Zuo, Cheng‐Chao RuanFudan University, China

ALKBH5m6AIL-11macrophage-to-myofibroblast transitioncardiac fibrosissingle-cell RNA sequencinglineage tracingparabiosisangiotensin II-induced hypertensionm6A erasersmacrophage-specific knockoutMeRIP-seqm6A demethylationmRNA stabilityIL11RA1targeted siRNA deliverycirculating monocytescardiac macrophages
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#12 of 13,650
6018m citations

A non-canonical role for a small nucleolar RNA in ribosome biogenesis and senescence

Yujing Cheng et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.06.019

Joshua T. MendellUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States

SNORA13small nucleolar RNAcellular senescenceribosome biogenesispseudouridineribosomal decoding centerfree ribosomal proteinsRPL2360S ribosomal subunitp53 activationp53-mediated senescencegenome-wide screenoncogene-induced senescencenon-canonical snoRNA functionribosomal protein accumulationmRNA translationnucleolar stress response
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#13 of 13,650
5618m citations

Lactylation-driven FTO targets CDK2 to aggravate microvascular anomalies in diabetic retinopathy

Xue Chen, Ying Wang, Jia-Nan Wang et al.EMBO Molecular Medicine202410.1038/s44321-024-00025-1

Xue Chen, Ying Wang, Jia-Nan WangNanjing Medical University, China

diabetic retinopathyFTOm6A eraserslactylationCDK2microvascular anomaliesendothelial cellsangiogenesistip cell formationEC-pericyte crosstalkmicrovascular leakageEC-microglia interactionsretinal inflammationneurodegenerationm6A-YTHDF2 axismRNA stabilityhistone lactylationFB23-2nanoplatformproliferative DR
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#14 of 13,650
5118m citations

5-methylcytosine methylation of MALAT1 promotes resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma through ELAVL1/SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis

Chuan-Jian Shi et al.Drug Resistance Updates202410.1016/j.drup.2024.101181

Jinfang ZhangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China

5-methylcytosine (m5C)MALAT1sorafenib resistancehepatocellular carcinomaELAVL1SLC7A11ferroptosisNSUN2ALYREFmRNA stabilitycytoplasmic translocationMALAT1-IN1long non-coding RNAsNSUN2/ALYREF/MALAT1 signaling axisMALAT1/ELAVL1/SLC7A11 signaling axissorafenib-induced ferroptosisepigenetic mechanisms
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#15 of 13,650
5018m citations

tsRNA-GlyGCC promotes colorectal cancer progression and 5-FU resistance by regulating SPIB

Rong Xu, Ashuai Du, Xinpei Deng et al.Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research202410.1186/s13046-024-03132-6

Qinglong YangCentral South University, China

tsRNA-GlyGCCtRNA-derived fragmentscolorectal cancerchemoresistanceSPIBJAK1/STAT6 signaling pathwayMETTL1N7-methylguanosine (m7G)MeRIP-seqRNA pull-downpoly(β-amino esters)nanotherapeutic deliverytumor sphere assayChIPTargetScanmiRanda
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#16 of 13,650
5018m citations

Targeting the oncogenic m6A demethylase FTO suppresses tumourigenesis and potentiates immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma

Ao Chen, Vanilla Xin Zhang et al.Gut202410.1136/gutjnl-2024-331903

Irene Oi‐Lin NgThe University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

FTOm6Am6A erasershepatocellular carcinomaextracellular vesiclesGPNMBsyndecan-4 (SDC4)YTHDF2CD8+ T cellstumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmune evasionFTO inhibitor CS2anti-PD-1 therapysorafenibmRNA stabilitymetastasisimmunotherapy sensitization
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#18 of 13,650
4918m citations

A hybrid residue based sequential encoding mechanism with XGBoost improved ensemble model for identifying 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modifications

Islam Uddin et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-71568-z

Shahid Akbar, Thamer A. H. AlghamdiAbdul Wali Khan University, Pakistan

5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC)RNA modificationTET enzyme oxidationXGBoostgradient boosting algorithmresidue based sequential encodinghybrid vectorfrequency residue based encoding featuresSHAPfeature selectionensemble model10-fold cross-validationepigenetic alterationsgene expression regulationXGB5hmC
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#19 of 13,650
4718m citations

DDX21 mediates co-transcriptional RNA m6A modification to promote transcription termination and genome stability

Jin-Dong Hao et al.Molecular Cell202410.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.006

Qian-Lan Liu, Yun‐Gui Yang, Jie RenBeijing Institute of Genomics, China

DDX21co-transcriptional RNA m6A modificationtranscription terminationgenome stabilityRNA helicasem6AMETTL3METTL14m6A writer complexR-loopstranscription-replication conflictsRNA processingchromatin associationDNA damage responsenascent RNAepitranscriptomics
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#20 of 13,650
4718m citations

METTL16-SENP3-LTF axis confers ferroptosis resistance and facilitates tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Jialin Wang et al.Journal of Hematology & Oncology202410.1186/s13045-024-01599-6

Yong Gao, Yandong LiTongji University, China

METTL16SENP3lactotransferrinferroptosis resistancehepatocellular carcinomam6AIGF2BP2mRNA stabilityde-SUMOylationproteasome-mediated ubiquitinationiron chelationlabile iron poollipid peroxidationhepatocyte-specific knockout miceMeRIP-seqRIP-qPCRcoimmunoprecipitationmass spectrometry
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in RNA modifications and cancer

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

Epitranscriptomic modifications have emerged as pivotal regulators of oncogenesis, gene expression, and therapeutic response. In the Class of 2026 cohort, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) remains the cornerstone of RNA modification research, present in 50% of the top-ranked papers. However, the field has broadened substantially to encompass a sophisticated network of regulatory machinery and non-m6A epitranscriptomic marks. Key writers and erasers dominate current mechanistic investigations, led by the m6A demethylase FTO and writer enzyme METTL3 (each present in 14.7% of papers), alongside m6A readers YTHDF2 and YBX1 (11.8%). These regulators modulate post-transcriptional gene dynamics, with mRNA stability being the primary functional outcome investigated in 32.4% of top studies. Beyond m6A, non-m6A modifications are gaining major traction, particularly 5-methylcytosine (m5C, 23.5%) regulated by NSUN2, and N7-methylguanosine (m7G, 11.8%). High-throughput profiling via MeRIP-seq (20.6%) serves as the principal methodological backbone for mapping modification sites across transcripts. Pathologically, these modification cascades are heavily contextualized within gastrointestinal and hepatic malignancies, notably hepatocellular carcinoma (14.7%) and colorectal cancer (14.7%), where RNA modification machinery directly drives metabolic reprogramming and iron-dependent ferroptosis pathways.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a clear maturation of the epitranscriptomics field. While broad m6A mentions normalized slightly from 66.7% to 50.0%, research sharply redirected toward specialized modification machinery, non-m6A marks, and metabolic cross-talk. The most prominent growth occurred in 5-methylcytosine (m5C) studies, surging over 4-fold from 5.6% to 23.5% of top publications. Similarly, targeted interest in the m6A eraser FTO jumped 5-fold from 2.8% to 14.7%. Functional investigations also expanded rapidly into ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation (rising to 17.6%), highlighting how RNA modifications alter cellular sensitivity to oxidative stress and iron-dependent cell death. Furthermore, 2024 introduced novel metabolic and epigenetic intersections, including histone lactylation (H3K18la), lactate signaling, and tRNA-derived fragments, alongside translational tools such as patient-derived organoids and single-cell RNA sequencing. Conversely, generic mentions of anti-PD-1 therapy and broader microenvironment terms saw relative declines as researchers prioritized granular molecular mechanisms over broad phenomenological descriptions. Overall, the cohort shift reflects a transition from global m6A cataloging toward multi-mark epitranscriptomics and metabolic tumor vulnerabilities.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited RNA modifications and cancer Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/rna-modifications-and-cancer/2026. Accessed 2026-07-22.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459