MicroRNAs as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets in prostate cancer.
Prostatectomy or irradiation is the most common traditional treatments for localized prostate cancer. In the event of recurrence and/or metastasis, androgen ablation therapy has been the mainstay treatment for many years. Although initially effective, the cancer inevitably recurs as androgen-independent PCa, a disease with limited effective treatments. Enhanced predictive biomarkers are needed at the time of diagnosis to better tailor therapies for patients. MicroRNAs are short nucleotide sequences which can complementary bind to and control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recent studies have demonstrated that many miRNAs are variably expressed in cancers vs. normal tissues, including PCa. In this review, we summarize PCa-specific miRNAs that show potential for their utilization as identifiers of aggressive disease and predictors for risk of recurrence. Additionally, we discuss their potential clinical applications as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016 ; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016.
Xin
X
Wen
Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016.
Fang-Ming
FM
Deng
Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016 ; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016 ; Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016.
Jinhua
J
Wang
biomarker; miRNA; prostate cancer