Along these lines, both our CRISPR/Cas9-generated PIWIL2 KO cells, as well as our PIWIL2 knockdown cells using a shRNA, exhibit slower proliferation rate, compared to the control cells, which would imply a tumor-promoting role for PIWIL2 (Fig. 5E, Fig. S4). The gene discussed is PIWIL2; the disease is neoplasm.