Epigenetic roles of PIWI‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer metastasis (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Jia Liu
    • Shujun Zhang
    • Binglin Cheng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 6, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6684
  • Pages: 2423-2434
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Abstract

P‑element‑induced wimpy testis (PIWI)‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are epigenetic‑related short ncRNAs that participate in chromatin regulation, transposon silencing, and modification of specific gene sites. These epigenetic factors or alterations are also involved in the growth of a variety of human cancers, including lung, breast, and colon cancer. Accumulating evidence has revealed that tumor metastasis and invasion involve genetic and epigenetic factors. Cancer metastasis is characterized by epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation and histone modification. Changes in DNA methylation, H3K9me3 heterochromatin and transposable elements have been detected in several cancers. piRNAs may function in gene silencing and gene modification upstream or downstream of oncogenes in cancer cell lines or cancer tissues. In addition to piRNAs, PIWI proteins can be used as biomarkers for prognosis, diagnosis and clinical evaluation and may be factors in cancer metastasis. Here, we elucidated the possible mechanisms by which piRNAs regulate cancer metastasis, including but not restricted to influencing DNA and histone methylation and transposable elements.
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November-2018
Volume 40 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Liu J, Zhang S and Cheng B: Epigenetic roles of PIWI‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer metastasis (Review). Oncol Rep 40: 2423-2434, 2018
APA
Liu, J., Zhang, S., & Cheng, B. (2018). Epigenetic roles of PIWI‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer metastasis (Review). Oncology Reports, 40, 2423-2434. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6684
MLA
Liu, J., Zhang, S., Cheng, B."Epigenetic roles of PIWI‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer metastasis (Review)". Oncology Reports 40.5 (2018): 2423-2434.
Chicago
Liu, J., Zhang, S., Cheng, B."Epigenetic roles of PIWI‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in cancer metastasis (Review)". Oncology Reports 40, no. 5 (2018): 2423-2434. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6684