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Updated: Sep 18, 2025

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The Roles of tRNA-Derived Fragments in Cancer: Updates and Perspectives

Jiamian Geng1, Zhaoyuan Sun1, Hang Li2

  • 1Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 26, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in disease progression. These novel tRFs show potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play crucial roles in various diseases.
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) are a newly identified class of small ncRNAs.
  • tRFs are generated from mature or precursor tRNAs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biogenesis and classification of tRFs.
  • To illustrate the fundamental functions of tRFs.
  • To summarize recent discoveries of tRFs in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • RNA sequencing advancements have enabled tRF identification.
  • Mechanisms of tRF involvement in disease include RNA silencing, translational and epigenetic regulation, reverse-transcriptional regulation, and apoptosis.
  • Studies have investigated tRF participation in various cancers.

Main Results:

  • tRFs are implicated in disease generation and progression through multiple regulatory mechanisms.
  • tRFs are involved in cancer development and progression.
  • Novel tRFs have been identified with potential clinical applications.

Conclusions:

  • tRFs represent a significant class of ncRNAs with diverse biological functions.
  • tRFs play a multifaceted role in cancer.
  • tRFs hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer.
Keywords:
biomarkercancernon-coding RNAtRNA-derived fragments

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