Transfer (t)RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a class of novel non-coding small RNAs that are created via precise cleavage of tRNAs or tRNA precursors by different enzymes. tsRNAs are specific biological molecules that serve essential roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification and translational regulation. Additionally, tsRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of several diseases, particularly in the development of malignant tumors. At present, the process of discovering and understanding the functions of tsRNAs is still in its early stages. The present review introduces the known biological functions and mechanisms of tsRNAs, and discusses the tsRNAs progression in several types of cancers as well as the possibility of tsRNAs becoming novel tumor biomarkers. Furthermore, tsRNAs may promote and hinder tumor formation according to different mechanisms and act as oncogenic or oncostatic molecules. Therefore, tsRNAs may be future potential tumor biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Keywords: biological function; biomarker; cancer; non-coding RNA; transfer RNA-derived small RNAs.
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