Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2025

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity
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An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity

Published on: October 8, 2018

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Emerging roles of tRNA-derived fragments in cancer

Min Fu1,2, Jianmei Gu3, Maoye Wang2

  • 1Institute of Digestive Diseases, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu, China.

Molecular Cancer
|February 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are small RNAs regulating cell functions and human diseases like cancer. Extracellular tRFs show promise as cancer biomarkers for liquid biopsy, highlighting their diagnostic and prognostic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are small non-coding RNAs originating from tRNA precursors.
  • Advances in high-throughput sequencing have revealed diverse tRF functions in physiological and pathological processes.
  • tRFs are implicated as critical regulators in human diseases, particularly cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biogenesis, classification, and modification of tRFs.
  • To summarize the multifaceted functions of tRFs in biological systems.
  • To highlight the current research status and future perspectives of tRFs in cancer, including their role in liquid biopsy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on tRNA-derived fragments.
  • Analysis of high-throughput sequencing data related to tRFs.
  • Synthesis of current research on tRF functions and roles in cancer.

Main Results:

  • tRFs regulate cell viability, differentiation, and homeostasis through various mechanisms.
  • Extracellular tRFs are emerging as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancer.
  • tRFs play multifaceted roles in the development and progression of cancer.

Conclusions:

  • tRFs are key regulators in human diseases, especially cancer.
  • Extracellular tRFs hold significant promise for cancer liquid biopsy applications.
  • Further research into tRFs offers new avenues for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords:
BiomarkerCancertRNA halvestRNA-derived fragments

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