Potential effect of anti-inflammatory drug use on PSA kinetics and subsequent prostate cancer diagnosis: Risk stratification in black and white men with benign prostate biopsy

Phytotherapy Might Have a Role in Reducing Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies: Results from an Exploratory, Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Different Phytotherapeutic Agents

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the impact of two different phytotherapeutic agents on decision making regarding prostate biopsy for patients with higher-than-normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

METHODS

From June 2022 to May 2023, all patients attending two urological institutions due to higher-than-normal PSA levels were randomized to receive either oral capsules of Curcuma Longa, Boswellia, Pinus pinaster and Urtica dioica (Group A) or Serenoa Repens 320 mg (Group B) for 3 months. At the follow-up visit after 3 months, all patients underwent PSA tests and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI).

RESULTS

In the per-protocol analysis, data from 66 patients in Group A and 76 in Group B were analyzed. Fifty patients in Group A (75.7%) showed a significant reduction in total PSA compared to forty-nine in Group B (64.4%) (p < 0.001). Twenty-eight patients had PI-RADS III or higher in mpMRI: twelve in Group A and fourteen in Group B. Twenty-three patients (34.8%) in Group A and fifty-nine (77.6%) in Group B (p < 0.001) underwent prostate biopsy based on the mpMRI findings and PSA values. Three patients in Group A showed a significant reduction in total PSA values while having positive mpMRI findings (6%) compared with nine in Group B (19.5%) (p < 0.001). On the contrary, 7 patients in Group A did not show significant reduction in total PSA values and had negative mpMRI findings (43%) compared to 22 in Group B (81.4%) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, a three-month course of a combination of Curcuma Longa, Boswellia, Pinus pinaster and Urtica dioica seems to be an interesting tool to avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies among men with higher-than-normal PSA levels.

miR-214-5p targeted by LncRNA DANCR mediates TGF-β signaling pathway to accelerate proliferation, migration and inhibit apoptosis of prostate cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

This research was designed to probe into the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) in potential applications and molecular mechanisms of prostate carcinoma (PC).

METHODS

The DANCR and miR-214-5p levels in PC tissues and cell lines were tested via real-time PCR, and those of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway related proteins were evaluated via Western Blot (WB). Cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and the regulatory relationship between target genes were assessed via MTT method, scratch test, flow cytometry, dual-luciferase report, RNA co-immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down test, respectively.

RESULTS

DANCR was up-regulated in PC patients' serum and cell lines, while miR-214-5p was opposite, showing negative correlation. Besides, DANCR was significantly correlated with PSA, Gleason score and T stage in PC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of DANCR and miR-214-5p for diagnosing PC was not less than 0.850, while the AUC for predicting poor prognosis was more than 0.800. Cox analysis results also revealed that the two might be prognostic indicators of PC patients. We found that DANCR high levels or miR-214-5p low levels were related to PC patients' poor prognosis. Up-regulating DANCR or down-regulating miR-214-5p could promote PC cells' malignant proliferation and migration, prevent apoptosis, and activate TGF-β signaling pathway, while reverse treatment of DANCR or miR-214-5p can reverse the above results. DANCR regulates miR-214-5p in a targeted manner, and DANCR over-expression can reduce the cancer inhibitory effect of miR-214-5p on PC cells.

CONCLUSION

DANCR-miR-214-5p-TGF-β axis regulatory network plays a key regulatory part in PC progression. It may provide new strategies for the screening and treatment of patients.