MicroRNAs as New Characters in the Plot between Epigenetics and Prostate Cancer

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Alessio Paone1, Roberta Galli, Muller Fabbri

  • 1Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Columbus, OH, USA.

Frontiers in Genetics
|February 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetically regulated in prostate cancer (PCA) and influence gene expression. This review explores how miRNAs and epigenetic interactions fine-tune androgen receptor (AR) expression in PCA.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Prostate cancer (PCA) remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are differentially expressed in PCA, implicating them in carcinogenesis.
  • miRNAs are subject to epigenetic regulation and can, in turn, modulate epigenetic machinery, impacting oncogenes and tumor suppressors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of epigenetically regulated and epigenetically regulating miRNAs in prostate cancer.
  • To elucidate the intricate interplay between miRNA-epigenetics interactions and androgen receptor (AR) regulation in PCA.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on epigenetic regulation of miRNAs in PCA.
  • Analysis of studies investigating miRNA targeting of epigenetic machinery.
  • Examination of the impact of these interactions on AR expression.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs involved in PCA pathogenesis are subject to epigenetic modifications.
  • These miRNAs can influence the expression of genes controlling epigenetic processes.
  • The complex interplay affects the expression of the androgen receptor (AR), a critical therapeutic target.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic regulation of miRNAs is crucial in prostate cancer development and progression.
  • miRNA-epigenetics interactions significantly influence AR signaling pathways.
  • Understanding these mechanisms offers potential for novel therapeutic strategies in PCA.
Keywords:
androgen receptorepigeneticshistone acetylationmethylationmicroRNAprostate cancer

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