Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequently occurring primary malignant brain tumor of astrocytic origin. To change poor prognosis, it is necessary to deeply understand the molecular mechanisms of gliomagenesis and identify new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) help in maintaining genome stability, and their deregulation has already been observed in many tumors. Recent studies suggest that these molecules could also play an important role in the glioma biology. To determine GBM-associated piRNAs, we performed small RNA sequencing analysis in the discovery set of 19 GBM and 11 non-tumor brain samples followed by TaqMan qRT-PCR analyses in the independent set of 77 GBM and 23 non-tumor patients. Obtained data were subsequently bioinformatically analyzed. Small RNA sequencing revealed 58 significantly deregulated piRNA molecules in GBM samples in comparison with non-tumor brain tissues. Deregulation of piR-1849, piR-9491, piR-12487, and piR-12488 was successfully confirmed in the independent groups of patients and controls (all p < 0.0001), and piR-9491 and piR-12488 reduced GBM cells' ability to form colonies in vitro. In addition, piR-23231 was significantly associated with the overall survival of the GBM patients treated with Stupp regimen (p = 0.007). Our results suggest that piRNAs could be a novel promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in GBM potentially playing important roles in gliomagenesis.

1st Department of Pathology St Anne's University Hospital and Medical Faculty Masaryk University Brno Czechia

Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Brno Czechia

Department of Biology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czechia

Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Brno Czechia

Department of Neurosurgery St Anne's University Hospital and Medical Faculty Masaryk University Brno Czechia

Department of Neurosurgery University Hospital Brno Brno Czechia

Department of Neurosurgery University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia

Department of Neurosurgery University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czechia

Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia

Department of Pathology University Hospital Brno Brno Czechia

Department of Radiation Oncology Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute and Medical Faculty Masaryk University Brno Czechia

The Fingerland Department of Pathology University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia

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