TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT-ASSOCIATED miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, AND miR-23b-3p EXPRESSION IN PROSTATE CANCER WITH DIFFERENT...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression.
• The intricate interactions between PCa cells and TME components require further elucidation.
• Investigating specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in PCa offers insights into TME dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the expression levels of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p in PCa tissues.
• To explore the correlation between these miRNA expression levels and TME characteristics.
• To assess the potential of these miRNAs as biomarkers for PCa aggressiveness.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of miRNA expression in 50 PCa patients (stages II-IV) using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
• Immunohistochemical assessment of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin (VIM), and CD68.
• Histochemical identification of mast cells within PCa tissue.

Main Results:

• Elevated miR-19a-3p and miR-23b-3p levels were observed in high-risk PCa patients compared to low-risk patients.
• miR-7-5p and miR-19a-3p expression correlated significantly with α-SMA and VIM levels.
• miR-7-5p expression showed a direct correlation with tumor-associated macrophage infiltration.

Conclusions:

• The distinct expression patterns of miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p suggest their utility.
• These miRNAs show promise as predictive markers for prostate cancer aggressiveness.
• Further research can validate these miRNAs for clinical application in PCa management.