Liu YW, Chen YK, Yan JY, Shen H, Mai FM, Kong ZH, Chen HL, Li LP, Liu WP, Gao Y, Zhang L. P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA: A biomarker for gastric cancer diagnosis, progression, and prognosis. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(32): 119965 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.119965]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lun Zhang, MD, Chief Physician, Full Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 60 Hengfu Road, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China. 1214632861@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
review-article
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Liu YW, Chen YK, Yan JY, Shen H, Mai FM, Kong ZH, Chen HL, Li LP, Liu WP, Gao Y, Zhang L. P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA: A biomarker for gastric cancer diagnosis, progression, and prognosis. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(32): 119965 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.119965]
Yu-Wei Liu, Yi-Ke Chen, Jin-Yang Yan, Hua Shen, Fang-Ming Mai, Zheng-Hui Kong, Hui-Long Chen, The Fifth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China
Li-Ping Li, Wei-Ping Liu, Lun Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China
Yong Gao, Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Liu YW contributed to the study design, literature collation, and manuscript drafting; Chen YK and Shen H were responsible for data collection, molecular mechanism analysis, and manuscript revision; Yan JY, Mai FM, and Kong ZH assisted with data interpretation, figure preparation, and technical support; Chen HL, Li LP, and Liu WP participated in the summary of clinical application prospects and provided critical revisions; Gao Y contributed to the analysis of research limitations and future directions; Zhang L conceived and designed the review, supervised the entire research process, and finalized the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Fostering Talents in Basic Science of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82304982.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.
Corresponding author: Lun Zhang, MD, Chief Physician, Full Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 60 Hengfu Road, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China. 1214632861@qq.com
Received: February 11, 2026 Revised: March 10, 2026 Accepted: April 21, 2026 Published online: August 28, 2026 Processing time: 173 Days and 22.1 Hours
Abstract
P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs, typically 24–31 nucleotides in length. They function by binding to PIWI proteins and play important roles in gene regulation. Initially identified in germline cells, PIWI-interacting RNAs (PiRNAs) mediate transposon silencing and maintain genomic integrity. Accumulating evidence indicates that, beyond their roles in mammalian germ cells, PiRNAs are also aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers, where they participate in tumorigenesis and progression through epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. In gastric cancer, several PiRNAs and their associated PIWI proteins exhibit distinct expression patterns and influence malignant behaviors, such as cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. Moreover, due to their high stability and detectability in bodily fluids and gastric mucosal tissues, PiRNAs show great potential as novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and treatment monitoring of gastric cancer. This review systematically summarizes the biogenesis, functional mechanisms, and molecular networks of PiRNAs in gastric cancer, discusses their clinical prospects for early detection, prognostic evaluation, and targeted therapy, and outlines current research limitations and future directions.
Core Tip: Gastric cancer is a highly lethal digestive tract malignancy with unclear pathogenesis. Non-coding RNAs are closely related to its occurrence and development, among which P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs have great research potential. PIWI-interacting RNAs (PiRNAs) regulate gene expression by binding to PIWI proteins and are abnormally expressed in gastric cancer tissues. This review focuses on PiRNAs and PIWI proteins, clarifies their molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer, and discusses their value as novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy.
