tRNA modifications: insights into their role in human cancers

Transfer RNA (tRNA) plays a central role in translation by functioning as a biolog-ical link between messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins. One prominent feature of the tRNA molecule is its heavily modified status, which greatly affects its biogen-esis and function. Modifications within the anticodon loop are crucial for transla-tion efficiency and accuracy, whereas other modifications in the body region affect tRNA structure and stability. Recent research has revealed that these di-verse modifications are critical regulators of gene expression. They are involved in many important physiological and pathological processes, including cancers. In this review we focus on six different tRNA modifications to delineate their func-tions and mechanisms in tumorigenesis and tumor progression, providing in-sights into their clinical potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.