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Updated: May 3, 2026
MicroRNA Detection in Prostate Tumors by Quantitative Real-time PCR qPCR
Published on: May 16, 2012
Serum microRNAs as biomarkers in patients undergoing prostate biopsy: results from a prospective multi-center study
Anna M Westermann1, Doris Schmidt, Stefan Holdenrieder
1Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Bonn, Germany; Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105 Bonn. joerg.ellinger@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
Background/Aim:
Increased levels of microRNAs in serum/plasma have been identified in various malignancies. We aimed to investigate serum levels of miR-26a-1 and miR-141 in patients undergoing prostate biopsy clinical suspicious for prostate cancer (PCA) in a prospective multi-center study.
Patients And Methods:
Pre-biopsy serum samples of 170 patients were collected in three different study Centres. Serum RNA was isolated, and microRNA lev-els were quantified using real-time PCR. Relative miR-26a -1 and miR-141 levels were determined using RNU1-4 and SNORD43 as reference genes.
Results:
After exclusion of pa-tients with metastatic prostate cancer (n=9) and isolation failures (n=28), 133 patients (prostate cancer n=54, non-malignant n=79) were used for further analysis. The levels of miR-26a-1 and miR-141 were similar in patients with positive and negative biopsies. We observed a significant increase of miR-141 in patients with higher Gleason Score.
Conclusion:
The analysis of circulating microRNAs does not seem to help identify patients with cancer undergoing prostate biopsy. However, their levels may be useful to identify patients with high-risk prostate cancer.
Insights
Serum microRNAs miR-26a-1 and miR-141 do not reliably identify prostate cancer (PCA) in biopsy patients. However, elevated miR-141 may indicate high-risk prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in various cancers.
- Investigating serum miRNAs for prostate cancer (PCA) detection is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum levels of miR-26a-1 and miR-141 in patients suspected of having prostate cancer.
- To determine if these miRNAs can differentiate between prostate cancer and non-malignant conditions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective multi-center study involving 170 patients undergoing prostate biopsy.
- Serum samples analyzed for miR-26a-1 and miR-141 using real-time PCR.
- RNU1-4 and SNORD43 used as reference genes for quantification.
Main Results:
- Analysis included 133 patients (54 with PCA, 79 non-malignant).
- miR-26a-1 and miR-141 levels were similar in patients with positive and negative biopsies.
- A significant increase in miR-141 was observed in patients with higher Gleason Scores.
Conclusions:
- Circulating miR-26a-1 and miR-141 do not appear to aid in identifying patients with prostate cancer during biopsy.
- Elevated miR-141 levels may serve as a potential biomarker for high-risk prostate cancer.
