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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Expression of dicer and its related miRNAs in the progression of prostate cancer
Xiaojie Bian1, Yijun Shen1, Guiming Zhang1
1Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Dicer is aberrantly expressed in several types of malignancies. Cleaved by Dicer, the small noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered potential tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. This study investigated the expression of miRNAs thought to target Dicer. Expression of 1,205 human miRNAs and miRNA*s were examined in four patients with prostate cancer (PCa) by miRNA array in which the threshold was set as two-fold. Seventy-three miRNAs and miRNA*s were significantly down-regulated while 10 were up-regulated in PCa tissues compared with matched histologically normal glands. Of these, miR-29b-1, miR-200a, miR-370, and miR-31, which were the most down/up-regulated and closely potentially target to the Dicer 3' UTR, were investigated further. Tissues of primary tumors and matched normal prostate glands from 185 patients with PCa were collected for further investigation. Dicer mRNA levels were negatively correlated with miR-29b-1 (ρs = -0.177, p = 0.017), miR-200a (ρs = -0.489, p < 0.0001) and miR-31 (ρs = -0.314, p < 0.0001) expression. Compared with adjacent normal glands, PCa tissues showed significantly lower miR-200a and miR-31 expression levels. Furthermore, in metastatic PCa, the expression levels of miR-200a, miR-370, and miR-31 were dramatically higher than in localized PCa. Additionally, elevated expression levels of miR-200a and miR-31 appeared to be associated with castration-resistant PCa. These findings suggest possibilities that miR-200a and miR-31 target Dicer and are involved in the carcinogenesis, migration, and behavior of castration-resistant PCa, indicating that they could be potential biomarkers for monitoring PCa progression.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) targeting Dicer show altered expression in prostate cancer (PCa). Specific miRNAs like miR-200a and miR-31 may serve as biomarkers for PCa progression and castration resistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Dicer expression is frequently altered in various cancers.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in gene regulation and are potential cancer biomarkers.
- Aberrant Dicer expression suggests a role for miRNAs in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of miRNAs that potentially target Dicer in prostate cancer (PCa).
- To identify specific miRNAs associated with PCa progression, metastasis, and castration resistance.
Main Methods:
- miRNA array analysis of 1,205 human miRNAs in four PCa patients.
- Quantitative analysis of Dicer mRNA and specific miRNA expression in 185 PCa tissues and matched normal glands.
- Correlation analysis between miRNA expression levels and clinicopathological features of PCa.
Main Results:
- Seventy-three miRNAs were significantly downregulated and 10 were upregulated in PCa tissues compared to normal glands.
- miR-200a and miR-31 expression levels were significantly lower in PCa tissues and negatively correlated with Dicer mRNA levels.
- Elevated miR-200a and miR-31 expression were associated with metastatic and castration-resistant PCa.
Conclusions:
- miR-200a and miR-31 likely target Dicer and are implicated in prostate cancer carcinogenesis, migration, and castration-resistant progression.
- These miRNAs represent potential biomarkers for monitoring prostate cancer progression.
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