Biological roles and potential clinical value of tRNA-derived small RNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are small RNA fragments generated from tRNA molecules or their precursors through cleavage by enzymes such as Dicer. As noncoding small RNAs, tsRNAs have important biological functions, including regulating mRNA stability and protein translation, serving as epigenetic regulators, and participating in intercellular communication. Recent studies have indicated that the dysregulation of tsRNAs is closely linked to the occurrence and progression of gastrointestinal malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that abnormally expressed tsRNAs play crucial roles in various mechanisms related to the proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, cellular metabolism, immune evasion and angiogenesis of gastrointestinal malignancies. The vast quantity, high abundance, diverse functions and tissue- and disease-specific expression of tsRNAs make them promising gastrointestinal malignancy biomarkers in terms of clinical screening, prognostic assessment and gene therapy. The biological roles and potential clinical value of tsRNAs offer novel insights into the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.