tsRNAs emerge as powerful non-invasive biomarkers in liquid biopsy, reveals research

A new review highlights the transformative potential of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in the field of liquid biopsy, emphasizing their role as promising biomarkers for a wide range of diseases, particularly cancers. These non-coding RNA fragments, originating from mature or precursor tRNAs, are detectable in diverse body fluids-including blood plasma, saliva, urine, semen, and cerebrospinal fluid-and exhibit remarkable stability, even in challenging biological environments.

The article presents tsRNAs as a rising star in precision medicine, with significant diagnostic and prognostic value. Found in both plasma and serum, tsRNAs offer disease-specific expression patterns and correlate with key clinical features such as tumor stage, metastasis, and patient survival. In breast cancer, certain circulating tsRNAs are associated with improved prognostic accuracy compared to traditional markers, while in lung cancer, tsRNA signatures have helped differentiate between early and advanced stages. tsRNAs have also shown promise in gastrointestinal, ovarian, pancreatic, renal, and bladder cancers, as well as in conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, infertility, and neurodegenerative disorders.