Any form of cancer is a result of uncontrolled cell growth caused by mutations and/or epigenetic alterations, implying that a balance of chromatin remodeling activities and epigenetic regulators is crucial to prevent the transformation of a normal cell to a cancer cell. Many of the chromatin remodelers do not recognize any specific sites on their targets and require guiding molecules to reach the respective targets. PIWI proteins and their interacting small non-coding RNAs (piRNAs) have proved to act as a guiding signal for such molecules. While epigenetic alterations lead to tumorigenesis, the stemness of cancer cells contributes to recurrence and metastasis of cancer. Various studies have propounded that the PIWI-piRNA complex also promotes stemness of cancer cells, providing new doors for target-mediated anti-cancer therapies. Despite the progress in diagnosis and development of vaccines, cervical cancer remains to be the second most prevalent cancer among women, due to the lack of cost-effective and accessible diagnostic and prevention methods. With the emergence of liquid biopsy, there is a significant demand for the ideal biomarker in the diagnosis of cancer. PIWI and piRNAs have been recommended to serve as prognostic and diagnostic markers, to differentiate early and later stages of cancer, including cervical cancer. This review discusses how PIWIs and piRNAs are involved in disease progression as well as their potential role in diagnostics and therapeutics in cervical cancer.

中文翻译：

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宫颈癌中的 PIWI 蛋白和 piRNA：癌症干细胞靶向治疗中的利器。

任何形式的癌症都是由突变和/或表观遗传改变引起的不受控制的细胞生长的结果，这意味着染色质重塑活动和表观遗传调节剂的平衡对于防止正常细胞转化为癌细胞至关重要。许多染色质重塑剂不能识别其靶标上的任何特定位点，需要引导分子到达各自的靶标。PIWI 蛋白及其相互作用的小非编码 RNA (piRNA) 已被证明可作为此类分子的指导信号。虽然表观遗传改变导致肿瘤发生，但癌细胞的干性有助于癌症的复发和转移。各种研究表明，PIWI-piRNA复合物还可以促进癌细胞的干性，为靶向介导的抗癌疗法提供了新的途径。尽管在疫苗的诊断和开发方面取得了进展，但由于缺乏具有成本效益和可及性的诊断和预防方法，宫颈癌仍然是女性中第二大最常见的癌症。随着液体活检的出现，对癌症诊断中理想的生物标志物的需求很大。PIWI 和 piRNA 已被推荐用作预后和诊断标志物，以区分癌症的早期和晚期阶段，包括宫颈癌。本综述讨论了 PIWI 和 piRNA 如何参与疾病进展以及它们在宫颈癌诊断和治疗中的潜在作用。由于缺乏具有成本效益和可获得的诊断和预防方法。随着液体活检的出现，对癌症诊断中理想的生物标志物的需求很大。PIWI 和 piRNA 已被推荐用作预后和诊断标志物，以区分癌症的早期和晚期阶段，包括宫颈癌。本综述讨论了 PIWI 和 piRNA 如何参与疾病进展以及它们在宫颈癌诊断和治疗中的潜在作用。由于缺乏具有成本效益和可获得的诊断和预防方法。随着液体活检的出现，对癌症诊断中理想的生物标志物的需求很大。PIWI 和 piRNA 已被推荐用作预后和诊断标志物，以区分癌症的早期和晚期阶段，包括宫颈癌。本综述讨论了 PIWI 和 piRNA 如何参与疾病进展以及它们在宫颈癌诊断和治疗中的潜在作用。