Table 1 Summary of miRNAs with known functional role in prostate cancer development and differential regulation in serum
From: MicroRNA in prostate cancer: functional importance and potential as circulating biomarkers
MicroRNA | Function | Up/Downregulated in Serum | Relevant disease stage | Findings from existing studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MiR-20a | Attenuates the pro-apoptotic action of E2F1-3 [16] | Localised and Metastatic | Distinguishes low/intermediate/high risk localised disease in combination with MiR-21, MiR-145, MiR-221 [78] | |
MiR-21 | Inhibits apoptosis by targeting PDCD4 and PTEN [13, 14]. Can stimulate androgen-independent growth [37] | Localised and Castrate-resistant | Improves diagnostic accuracy of PSA when combined with miR-141 [67] Distinguishes low/intermediate/high risk localised disease [78] Predictive of response to Docetaxel in castrate-resistant disease [50]. | |
MiR-107 | Granulin production [27] | Upregulated [73] | Localised | Upregulated in cancer vs. benign in serum microvesicles and urine [73] |
MiR-125b | Suppresses p14(ARF) to modulate both p-53 dependent and independent apoptosis [9]. | Upregulated [6] | Not elucidated | Distinguishes cancer from control [6] |
MiR-143 | Suppresses KRAS expression, inhibiting the MAPK pathway. Regulates EMT [29] | Upregulated [6] | Not elucidated | Distinguishes cancer from control [6] |
Mir-141 | Expression is controlled by androgens [41]. Limited to epithelium [6]. | Advanced/Metastatic disease | Distinguishes metastatic and localised disease [70, 76] Predicts biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy | |
MiR-145 | Inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion. Downregulates FSCN1. Inhibits EMT [34]. | Localised and metastatic | Correlated with higher Gleason grade, PSA, and bony metastasis [34] Distinguishes low/intermediate/high risk localised disease [78] | |
MiR-221 | Favours androgen-dependent growth. Downregulation may be linked to castrate-resistant state [43, 80]. | Upregulated [67, 78] (although downregulation in tissue also reported [81] | Localised and metastatic | Distinguishes low/intermediate/high risk localised disease in combination with MiR-21, MiR-145, MiR-221 [54] |
MiR-331-3p | Down-regulation increases ERBB-2 expression. Associated with androgen-independent growth [45] | Downregulated [73] | Not elucidated | Distinguishes cancer from control [73] |
Mir-375 | Stimulates proliferation via downregulation of Sec23a [82] | Localised and metastatic |