MicroRNA panel in serum reveals novel diagnostic biomarkers for prostate cancer

A MicroRNA Approach to Evaluating Elevated Prostate Cancer Risk in Cancer-Free Men

Objective criteria are required for prostate cancer (PCa) risk assessment, treatment decisions, evaluation of therapy, and initial indications of recurrence. Circulating microRNAs were utilized as biomarkers to distinguish PCa patients from cancer-free subjects or those encountering benign prostate hyperplasia. A panel of 60 microRNAs was developed with established roles in PCa initiation, progression, metastasis, and recurrence. Utilizing the FirePlex® platform for microRNA analysis, we demonstrated the efficacy and reproducibility of a rapid, high-throughput, serum-based assay for PCa biomarkers that circumvents the requirement for extraction and fractionation of patient specimens supporting feasibility for expanded clinical research and diagnostic applications.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of miR-93 in Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Analysis

Background

Accurate and non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic markers are necessary to improve patient outcomes. MicroRNAs have been proposed as relatively non-invasive and pertinent biomarkers. miR-93 has been studied for its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in prostate cancer (PCa), but findings from individual studies are inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis of its overall differential expression in 13 PCa studies and a bioinformatics analysis to provide a comprehensive appraisal of its diagnostic and prognostic role.

Methods

We searched all published papers on miR-93 expression in PCa up to Nov 30, 2022 using PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. We used RevMan software to Meta-analyze the included literature. A bioinformatics analysis of genes and pathways that might be target to the effect of the mature miR-93-5p was carried out.

Results

The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of miR-93 expression in PCa, its area under the curve (AUC) and hazard ratio (HR) were 1.26, 95% CI [-0.34-2.86], 0.84, 95% CI [0.76 -0.93] and 1.67, 95% CI [0.98, 2.84] respectively. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that mature miR-93-5p may regulate genes such as SMAD1, SMAD7 and MAPK and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.

Conclusion

miR-93 has significant diagnostic and prognostic value in PCa. These findings highlight the potential of miR-93 as a non-invasive biomarker for PCa and may contribute to earlier detection and prognostic assessment. The target genes and signaling pathways regulated by miR-93 may provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of PCa.

Systematic Analysis of Tissue-Derived and Biofluid Extracellular Vesicle miRNAs Associated with Prostate Cancer

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as biomarker candidates for early detection of prostate cancer. Studies compare EV-microRNA (miRNA) expression in individuals with prostate cancer (PCa) with cancer-free samples for diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study is to review miRNA signatures to investigate the overlap between miRNAs enriched in PCa tissue and miRNAs enriched in EVs isolated from subjects with PCa biofluids (i.e., urine, serum, and plasma). Signatures dysregulated in EVs from PCa biofluids and tissue are potentially associated with the primary tumor site and might be more indicative of PCa at an early stage. A systematic review of EV-derived miRNAs and a reanalysis of PCa tissue miRNA sequencing data for comparison is presented. Articles in the literature are screened for validated miRNA dysregulation in PCa and compared with TCGA primary PCa tumor data using DESeq2. This resulted in 190 dysregulated miRNAs being identified. Thirty-one eligible studies are identified, indicating 39 dysregulated EV-derived miRNAs. The top ten markers identified as significantly dysregulated in the PCa tissue dataset TCGA (e.g., miR-30b-3p, miR-210-3p, miR-126-3p, and miR-196a-5p) have a significant expression change in EVs with the same directionality in one or several statistically significant results. This analysis highlights several less frequently studied miRNAs in PCa literature.

A systematic review of miRNAs as biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients reveals potentially clinically informative panels as well as key challenges in miRNA research

Breast cancer patients are at a particularly high risk of cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy having a detrimental effect on quality-of-life parameters and increasing the risk of mortality. Prognostic biomarkers would allow the management of therapies to mitigate the risks of cardiotoxicity in vulnerable patients and a key potential candidate for such biomarkers are microRNAs (miRNA). miRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression which can also be released into the circulatory system and have been associated with the progression of many chronic diseases including many types of cancer. In this review, the evidence for the potential application of miRNAs as biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CIC) in breast cancer patientsis evaluated and a simple meta-analysis is performed to confirm the replication status of each reported miRNA. Further selection of miRNAs is performed by reviewing the reported associations of each miRNA with other cardiovascular conditions. Based on this research, the most representative panels targeting specific chemotherapy agents and treatment regimens are suggested, that contain several informative miRNAs, including both general markers of cardiac damage as well as those for the specific cancer treatments.

The potential of cell-free and exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers in liquid biopsy in patients with prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the 4th most diagnosed cancer and the 8th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Currently, clinical risk stratification models including factors like PSA levels, Gleason score, and digital rectal examination are used for this purpose. There is a need for novel biomarkers that can distinguish between indolent and aggressive pathology and reduce the risk of overdiagnosis/overtreatment. Liquid biopsy has a non-invasive character, can lead to less morbidity and provide new biomarkers, such as miRNAs, that regulate diverse important cellular processes. Here, we report an extended revision about the role of cell-free and exosomal miRNAs (exomiRNAs) as biomarkers for screening, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of PCa.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the published literature was conducted focusing on the usefulness, advantages, and clinical applications of cell-free and exomiRNAs in serum and plasma. Using PubMed database 53 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were selected and discussed from the perspective of their use as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for PCa.

RESULTS

We identify 119 miRNAs associated with PCa development and the cell-free and exosomal miR-21, miR-141, miR-200c, and miR-375 were consistently associated with progression in multiple cohorts/studies. However, standardized experimental procedures, and well-defined and clinically relevant cohort studies are urgently needed to confirm the biomarker potential of cell-free and exomiRNAs in serum or plasma.

CONCLUSION

Cell-free and exomiRNAs in serum or plasma are promising tools for be used as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnostic, prognosis, therapy improvement and clinical outcome prediction in PCa patients.

Modern Methods for Assessment of microRNAs

The review discusses modern methods for the quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis of miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs affecting numerous biological processes such as development, differentiation, metabolism, and immune response. miRNAs are considered as promising biomarkers in the diagnosis of various diseases.

Expression of miR-24-1-5p in Tumor Tissue Influences Prostate Cancer Recurrence: The PROCA-life Study

The role of miR-24-1-5p and its prognostic implications associated with prostate cancer are mainly unknown. In a population-based cohort, the Prostate Cancer Study throughout life (PROCA-life), all men had a general health examination at study entry and were followed between 1994 and 2016. Patients with available tissue samples after a prostatectomy with curative intent were identified (n = 189). The tissue expression of miR-24-1-5p in prostate cancer was examined by in situ hybridization (ISH) in tissue microarray (TMA) blocks by semi-quantitative scoring by two independent investigators. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to study the associations between miR-24-1-5p expression and prostate cancer recurrence. The prostate cancer patients had a median age of 65.0 years (range 47−75 years). The Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical Score, International Society of Urological Pathology grade group, and European Association of Urology Risk group were all significant prognostic factors for five-year recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). Prostate cancer patients with a high miR-24-1-5p expression (≥1.57) in the tissue had a doubled risk of recurrence compared to patients with low expression (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.13−3.51). Our study suggests that a high expression of miR-24-1-5p is associated with an increased risk of recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy, which points to the potential diagnostic and therapeutic value of detecting miR-24-1-5p in prostate cancer cases.

Regulation of Neuroendocrine-like Differentiation in Prostate Cancer by Non-Coding RNAs

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) represents a variant of prostate cancer that occurs in response to treatment resistance or, to a much lesser extent, de novo. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms behind transdifferentiation of cancer cells to neuroendocrine-like cancer cells is essential for development of new treatment opportunities. This review focuses on summarizing the role of small molecules, predominantly microRNAs, in this phenomenon. A published literature search was performed to identify microRNAs, which are reported and experimentally validated to modulate neuroendocrine markers and/or regulators and to affect the complex neuroendocrine phenotype. Next, available patients’ expression datasets were surveyed to identify deregulated microRNAs, and their effect on NEPC and prostate cancer progression is summarized. Finally, possibilities of miRNA detection and quantification in body fluids of prostate cancer patients and their possible use as liquid biopsy in prostate cancer monitoring are discussed. All the addressed clinical and experimental contexts point to an association of NEPC with upregulation of miR-375 and downregulation of miR-34a and miR-19b-3p. Together, this review provides an overview of different roles of non-coding RNAs in the emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer.