Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) arises when cancer cells invade and develop in the prostate tissue, with the ability to metastasize to other areas of the body.1 PCa is an exceedingly prevalent disease, ranking as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide.2 According to the Canadian Cancer Society, PCa is the most common cancer among Canadian men.3 Prostate cancer’s heterogeneity between patients leads to immense difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.4

Current diagnostic strategies for PCa have been heavily criticized for their uncertainty, leading to frequent overtreatment and false-positive or false-negative outcomes.5 The primary screening and diagnostic tools are the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, digital rectal exam (DRE), and tissue biopsy.1

MiRNAs are small, non-coding ribonucleic acids that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptionally modifying messenger RNAs (mRNAs).6 MiRNAs bind to their target mRNAs, inhibiting translation or degrading the molecule to regulate their expression.7 This regulation of gene expression influences functions such as apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, homeostasis, and cell cycle control. MiRNA biogenesis must be exceptionally precise to ensure that these small molecules have the proper structure and function.

Dysregulation of miRNAs can be a prominent contributor to the development and progression of diseases, such as cancer.8 MiRNAs can be upregulated or downregulated, with various effects on cancer pathways. The amplification of oncogenic and/or the loss of tumour-suppressor miRNAs can contribute to cancer tumorigenesis, and the difference in miRNA expression patterns could identify healthy individuals versus cancer patients.9 Numerous miRNAs and their dysregulation have been identified in prostate cancer patients. The use of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PCa, such as miR-17-3p and miR-1185-2-3p has shown increasing promise.10

This research aims to evaluate the current literature to better understand the effectiveness of miRNAs as potential non-invasiv">

title



Effectiveness of miRNAs as Potential Non-Invasive Liquid Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prominent cancers worldwide. However, many limitations in its diagnostic and prognostic protocols lead to severe unreliability. Numerous studies have identified miRNAs as potential non-invasive liquid biomarkers of PCa. This research aims to evaluate the current literature to better understand the effectiveness of miRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic non-invasive liquid biomarkers of prostate cancer.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted by thorough searches on the Omni and PubMed database for articles in the past five years. The eligibility criteria, including demographics, study methodology, and sample type, were developed, enabling the final selection of 18 articles that fit these guidelines. Characteristics of the chosen studies varied, as the goal was to include diverse populations and methodologies to encompass all the current literature. Key differentially expressed and statistically significant miRNAs were extracted from the research, including their dysregulation signatures and associated statistical values, and compiled into a Google Doc.

Results

Various single miRNAs and miRNA panels show statistically significant differential expression between healthy controls and PCa patients, displaying potential as biomarkers. MiRNA panels, in conjunction with current diagnostic protocols and clinicopathological factors, display the most promise as a future diagnostic tool for PCa. More specifically, a 2-miRNA and 5-cs-miRPs panel show remarkable potential for future use in prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. These panels displayed significant specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy in the diagnostic power of prostate cancer, even performing better than the prostate-specific antigen test, the current gold-standard liquid biomarker. Some limitations of the supporting evidence include heterogeneity between studies’ methodology and analysis, lack of standardization in the current protocols of miRNA collection and quantification, and the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the expression of these biomarkers.

Conclusion

Future research should validate which miRNAs to include in a panel, how to standardize their storage, collection, and quantification, and how to incorporate them into the current protocols. Clinical applications of miRNAs as non-invasive liquid biomarkers can contribute to early cancer detection and prevention, thus improving outcomes for prostate cancer patients.

 

 

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) arises when cancer cells invade and develop in the prostate tissue, with the ability to metastasize to other areas of the body.1 PCa is an exceedingly prevalent disease, ranking as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide.2 According to the Canadian Cancer Society, PCa is the most common cancer among Canadian men.3 Prostate cancer’s heterogeneity between patients leads to immense difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.4

Current diagnostic strategies for PCa have been heavily criticized for their uncertainty, leading to frequent overtreatment and false-positive or false-negative outcomes.5 The primary screening and diagnostic tools are the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, digital rectal exam (DRE), and tissue biopsy.1

MiRNAs are small, non-coding ribonucleic acids that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptionally modifying messenger RNAs (mRNAs).6 MiRNAs bind to their target mRNAs, inhibiting translation or degrading the molecule to regulate their expression.7 This regulation of gene expression influences functions such as apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, homeostasis, and cell cycle control. MiRNA biogenesis must be exceptionally precise to ensure that these small molecules have the proper structure and function.

Dysregulation of miRNAs can be a prominent contributor to the development and progression of diseases, such as cancer.8 MiRNAs can be upregulated or downregulated, with various effects on cancer pathways. The amplification of oncogenic and/or the loss of tumour-suppressor miRNAs can contribute to cancer tumorigenesis, and the difference in miRNA expression patterns could identify healthy individuals versus cancer patients.9 Numerous miRNAs and their dysregulation have been identified in prostate cancer patients. The use of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PCa, such as miR-17-3p and miR-1185-2-3p has shown increasing promise.10

This research aims to evaluate the current literature to better understand the effectiveness of miRNAs as potential non-invasiv

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