We believe that RASSF1C up-regulation of EMT marker genes and ABCA1 gene expression, in part through down-regulation of miR-33a, provides novel mechanistic possibilities of how RASSF1C may contribute to lung EMT/cancer stem cell development and progression through modulation of a PIWIL1-piRNA and miRNA gene axis. The gene discussed is PIWIL1; the disease is cancer.