piR-54265 is also increased in CRC tumor tissue, and promotes CRC cell proliferation and metastasis, and inhibits apoptosis through PIWIL2/STAT3/p-SRC complex formation, in which STAT3 is phosphorylatively activated by p-SRC, and subsequent anti-apoptotic BCL-XL and pro-metastatic matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) and MMP9 up-regulation. Here, PIWIL2 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.