Notably, we and others have revealed that targeting dysregulated RNA modification enzymes, such as PCIF1, METTL1 and METTL3, responsible for mRNA m6Am, mRNA m6A and tRNA m7G modification, offers promising strategies for HNSCC treatment.4–7 This encourages us to delve deeper into the role of RNA modification in driving HNSCC tumorigenesis and progression. Here, METTL3 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.