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Updated: Oct 27, 2025

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
Published on: May 30, 2025
PIWI-interacting RNAs: Mitochondria-based biogenesis and functions in cancer
Jing-Fen Su1, Anthony Concilla2, Dian-Zheng Zhang2
1Anyang Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research, Anyang Cancer Hospital, The Forth Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Anyang, Henan Province, 455000, PR China.
Abstract:
PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNAs), once thought to be mainly functioning in germlines, are now known to play an essential role in somatic and cancerous tissues. Ping-pong cycle initiation and mitochondria-based phased production constitute the core of the piRNA biogenesis and these two processes are well conserved in mammals, including humans. By being involved in DNA methylation, histone marker deposition, mRNA degradation, and protein modification, piRNAs also contribute to carcinogenesis partly due to oncogenic stress-induced piRNA dysregulation. Also, piRNAs play important roles in cancer stemness, drug resistance, and tumor immunology. Results from liquid biopsy analysis of piRNA can be used in both cancer diagnoses and cancer prognoses. A combination of targeting piRNA with other therapeutic strategies could be groundbreaking cancer treatment.
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