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miR-888 is an expressed prostatic secretions-derived microRNA that promotes prostate cell growth and migration

Holly Lewis1, Raymond Lance2, Dean Troyer1

  • 1Department of Microbiology & Molecular Cell Biology; Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center; Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, VA USA.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|November 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) promote aggressive prostate cancer by increasing cell proliferation and migration. MiR-888, found in expressed prostatic secretions, shows promise as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with significant roles in gene regulation.
  • Dysregulation of miRNAs is frequently observed in various cancers, including prostate cancer.
  • Understanding miRNA roles is crucial for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific microRNAs in prostate cancer progression and metastasis.
  • To identify potential miRNA biomarkers in expressed prostatic secretions for prostate cancer diagnosis.
  • To explore miR-888 as a therapeutic target for aggressive prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Profiling miRNA expression in human prostate cancer cell lines with varying metastatic potential.
  • Quantifying miR-888 levels in patient tumor samples and expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in urine.
  • In vitro functional assays to assess the impact of miR-888 on cancer cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation.

Main Results:

  • miR-888 was significantly upregulated in metastatic prostate cancer cells and primary tumors with seminal vesicle invasion.
  • Elevated miR-888 levels were detected in EPS urine of patients with high-grade prostate cancer, correlating with disease progression.
  • Overexpression of miR-888 enhanced prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, while inhibition reversed these effects.
  • miR-888 was found to suppress the tumor suppressor genes RBL1 and SMAD4.

Conclusions:

  • miR-888 acts as an oncogenic microRNA, promoting prostate cancer progression and aggressiveness.
  • miR-888 in EPS urine represents a promising, non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing high-grade prostate cancer.
  • Targeting miR-888 offers a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive prostate cancer.
Keywords:
EPS urineexpressed prostatic secretions urinemiR-888miRNAmicroRNAnon-coding RNAprostateprostate cancer

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