Currently, the incidence of digestive system tumors has been increasing annually, thus becoming a prevalent cause of cancer‑related mortalities. Although significant strides have been made in targeting the molecular mechanisms that underpin the development of these tumors, their treatment and prognosis still pose substantial challenges. This is primarily due to the ambiguity of early diagnostic indicators and the fact that most digestive system tumors are detected at an advanced stage. However, epigenetic modifications are capable of altering the expression of oncogenes and regulating biological processes in cancer. In recent years, the study of methylation in relation to tumor pathogenesis has become a focus of prominent research. Among the various types of methylation, 5‑methylcytosine (m5C) methylation plays a crucial role in the development of digestive system tumors and is anticipated to serve as a novel therapeutic target. However, to date, a comprehensive and systematic review concerning the role of m5C methylation in digestive system tumors is lacking. Consequently, the present study reviewed the role of m5C methylation in digestive system tumors such as esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, with the aim of providing a valuable reference for future research endeavors.

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