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

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and the significant roles they play in several diseases have been described and verified in numerous studies. Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) are a newly discovered class of small ncRNAs produced by mature or precursor tRNAs. In light of the development of RNA sequencing, evidence has shown that tRFs are widely involved in the generation and progression of diseases through a series of mechanisms, including RNA silencing, translational regulation, epigenetic regulation, reverse-transcriptional regulation, and cellular apoptosis. Several studies have determined that tRFs participate in several cancers in a number of ways. Furthermore, novel tRFs may hold significant potential as both diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinical applications. In this review, we discuss the biogenesis and classification of tRFs, illustrate their fundamental functions, and summarize the most recent tRF-related discoveries pertaining to cancer.