miR-145-5p and miR-148b-3p Expression Is Inversely Associated with Pten Expression in Prostate Pathologies

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a significant cause of cancer-associated mortality in the male population worldwide and constitutes a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors. Deregulation of genes such as AR and PTEN, as well as alteration in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-145-5p and miR-148b-3p, has been observed in this pathology. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the expression of miR-145-5p, miR-148b-3p, and PTEN in prostate tissue, providing initial insight into their potential interaction in cancer biology. We analyzed 71 samples, comprising 41 from patients with confirmed prostate cancer (PCa group) and 30 from patients with benign prostatic disease (BPD group). Our findings demonstrated a statistically significant association between both miRNAs and the PTEN gene, specifically between miR-148b-3p and PTEN (p = 0.00001) and between miR-145-5p and PTEN (p = 0.0078). These findings support the hypothesis that reduced levels of these miRNAs may be linked to PTEN regulation in prostate pathologies and underscore their potential relevance in PCa biology.