Table 1 Roles of tRNA-derived fragments and tRNA halves in cancers

breast cancer

tRF-30-JZOYJE22RR33

tRF-27-ZDXPHO53KSN

tRF

Independent predictors of PFS in HER-2-positive breast cancer

[12]

tRF-0009

tDR-7336

tRF

Facilitate doxorubicin resistance

[13, 14]

tRF3E

tiRNA-3

tumor suppressor

[15]

tDR-7816

tRF

diagnostic biomarker of early non-TNBC

[16]

ts-112

tRF

ts-112 inhibition reduces the proliferative capacity of aggressive breast cancer cells.

[17]

5′-tiRNA^Val

tiRNA-5

5′-tiRNAVal overexpression significantly suppresses

breast tumor cell proliferation,

migration and invasion.

[18]

tRF-32-Q99P9P9NH57SJ

tiRNA-5

tumour stage and lymph node metastasis

[19]

SHOT-RNAAsp-GUC

SHOT-RNAHis-GUG

SHOT-RNALys-CUU

tiRNA

SHOT-RNAs enhance cell proliferation.

[20]

tDR-000620

tRF

aggressive phenotype of breast cancer stem cells

[21]

5′-tiRNA^Asp, 5′-tiRNA^His

tiRNA-5

elevate in breast cancer

[22]

tRF^Glu-YTC

tRF^Asp-GTC

tRF^Gly-TCC

i-tRF

suppress cell proliferation and cancer metastasis

[23]

tRF^Ser-GCT

i-tRF

Unknown

[24]

tRF-2 derived from

tRNA^Glu, tRNA^Asp,

tRNA^Gly, and tRNA^Tyr

tRF-2

Bind to YBX1 by displacing 3′-UTR, thus suppressing cancer cell growth and metastasis

[25]

ts-46, ts-47

tRF-1

ts-46 and ts-47 are upregulated by PIK3CA and KRAS mutations, respectively. These two mutations are involved in the resistance of breast cancer cells to lapatinib.

[26]

lung cancer

ts-101

ts-53

tRF-1

Associate with PiwiL2, an essential protein involved in silencing of transposons

[25]

ts-46

ts-47

tRF-1

have inhibitory effect on the ability of lung cancer cells to form colonies

[25]

tRF^{Leu − CAG}

tiRNA-5

Promote cell proliferation and G0/G1 cell cycle progression

[27]

pancreatic cancer

AS-tDR-000064

AS-tDR-000069

AS-tDR-000102

AS-tDR-001391

tiRNA-5

diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers

[28]

colorectal cancer

tRF/miR-1280

tRNALeu and pre-miRNA

suppress colorectal cancer growth and metastasis

[29]

tiRNA-Tyr-GTA

tiRNA-5

Targets of tiRNA-Tyr-GTA are mainly enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway.

[30]

tRF-Gln-CTG

tRF-5c

Negative regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) cascade is enriched in tRF-Gln-CTG. Inhibition of JNK cascade can reduce the migration potential of colon cancer cells in vitro.

[30]

tRF-Leu-TAG

tRF-5a

Function of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition is enriched in tRF-Leu-TAG.

[30]

5′-tRF-Lys^TTT,

5′-tRF-Val^CAC,

5′-tRF-Glu^CTC,

5′-tRF-Pro^CGG

tRF-5

Associate with chemotherapy

treatment outcomes

[26]

prostate cancer

tRF-1001

tRF-1

TRF-1001 is required for cell proliferation.

[31]

tRNA^Lys-CTT

tRNA^Phe-GAA

tRF

The ratio of tRFs derived from tRNA^Lys-CTT and tRNA^Phe-GAA is a good indicator of progression-free survival.

[32]

tRF-544

tRF-315

tRF-5

tRF-3

High expression ratio of tRF-315/tRF-544 predicts poor PFS.

[32]

SHOT-RNAAsp-GUC

SHOT-RNAHis-GUG

SHOT-RNALys-CUU

tiRNA

SHOT-RNAs enhance cell proliferation.

[20]

liver cancer

tRF^Ser

tRF-3

Cleavage of tRNAs during stress

[33]

cervical cancer

tRF^Gln

tRF-5

inhibit the process of protein translation

[34]

clear cell renal cell carcinoma

5′-tRNA4-Val-AAC

tiRNA-5

advanced stage and grade

[35]

5′-tiRNA-Arg-CCT,

5′-tiRNA-Glu-CTC,

5′-tiRNA-Leu-CAG,

5′-tiRNA-Lys-TTT

tiRNA-5

Potential tumor suppressors

[36]

B cell lymphoma

CU1276 (tRF-3018)

tRF-3

CU1276 associates with argonaute proteins, represses endogenous RPA1, suppresses proliferation, and modulates molecular response to DNA damage. Loss of CU1276 expression may confer a growth advantage to malignant cells.

[37]

tRFHis-GTG

tRFLeu-CAG

tRF-3

associate with Ago2 and downregulate target genes by transcript cleavage

[38]

ovarian cancer

tRF5-Glu

tRF-5

Increased tRF5-Glu inhibits the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells.

[39]

tRF-03357

tRF-5

tRF-03357 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

[40]

osteosarcoma

tiRNA^Ala

tiRNA^Cys

tiRNA-5

Inhibit protein synthesis and trigger the phospho-eIF2α-independent assembly of stress granules

[41]

tRF^Val

tRF-5

tRF^Val induces the assembly of cytoprotective stress granules.

[41]

chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ts-101, ts-53

tRF-1

ts-53 targets the 3′-UTR of TCL1, a key oncogene in the development of aggressive CLL. ts-101 and ts-53 associate with PiwiL2, an essential protein involved in silencing of transposons.

[42]

ts-46, ts-47

tRF-1

potential tumor suppressors

[43]

i-tRF-GlyCCC

i-tRF

predict poor overall survival

[44]

i-tRF-GlyGCC

i-tRF

prognostic biomarker

[45]

ts-43, ts-44

tRF-5

tumor suppressors

[46]

head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

5′-tiRNA^Ala

5′-tiRNA^Cys

5′-tiRNA^Tyr

tiRNA-5

significantly increase

[47]

uveal melanoma

tRF-22-BP4MJYSZH

tRF-21-45DBNIB9B

i-tRF

associated with metastasis and patient survival

[48]

gastric cancer

tRF-3019a

tRF

tRF-3019a overexpression enhances gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

[49]

testicular germ cell

tumor

tRF (20 nt)

tRF

Associated with cancerdevelopment and progression

[26]