Biochemical properties and progress in cancers of tRNA-derived fragments.

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tRFs), a kind of noncoding RNAs, are generated from transfer RNAs. tRFs have some types according to their source and sizes. They play important roles in cell life and carcinogenesis. In this paper, we review the biogenesis and biological properties. We also focus on current progress of tRFs and some tsRNAs such as tRF-Leu-CAG, which have been studied or will be further investigated in tumorgenesis and diagnostic biomarkers in the clinic.