These findings, taken together with the dysregulation of the PIWI pathway and downregulation of PIWIL2 in colon tumors, as well as with the significantly increased ability of the PIWIL2 KO cells to grow in anchorage-independent conditions, underscore a tumor-suppressing role of PIWIL2 in the colon. The gene discussed is PIWIL2; the disease is neoplasm.