A New Promising Pathway in Aggressive Prostate Cancer: Treg/mir-let8c/lin28b

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Prostate cancer progression involves complex, poorly understood developmental events.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may regulate the balance between cytotoxic and regulatory T cells within tumors.
• Investigating miRNA and FOXP3 expression offers insight into prostate cancer pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression of specific miRNAs and the regulatory T cell (Treg) marker FOXP3 in the prostate cancer spectrum.
• To explore the relationship between miRNA expression, FOXP3, and clinical parameters like PSA levels and tumor grade.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 12 miRNA expressions using real-time PCR in prostate tissue samples from 38 cancer patients and 19 benign hyperplasia controls.
• Patients were grouped by Gleason Score (≤7 and ≥8).
• Correlations were assessed between serum PSA, CD3, CD4, FOXP3 immunohistochemistry, and miRNA expression levels.

Main Results:

• hsa-let7c-3p was significantly downregulated, while miR-141-3p was significantly upregulated in prostate cancer patients compared to controls.
• CD4 and PSA levels showed statistically significant differences between groups and controls.
• Expressions of miR-143-p, miR-221-3p, hsa-let7c-3p, and miR-17-3p were significantly correlated with the Treg marker FOXP3.

Conclusions:

• This study reports significantly altered miRNA expression levels (including miR-let7c, miR221, miR-141, miR-143, miR17) in aggressive prostate cancer.
• A significant correlation was found between specific miRNAs and the FOXP3 Treg marker.
• Findings suggest a potential regulatory role of crosstalk between Tregs and miRNAs in prostate cancer progression.