Circulating miR-20a and miR-26a as Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Pathology, Labbafi-Nezhad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), present in body fluids, have been considering importance as cancer
biomarkers. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether circulatory miR-20a and miR-26a can be used as
diagnostic biomarkers in prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Relative expression miR-20a and miR-26a has been assessed
in 40 patients with PCa and 40 non-cancerous volunteer. Sample Collection of patients was performed before and one
week after prostatectomy. Total RNA was extracted from serum and miR-20a and miR-26a expressions were quantified
by using Real-Time PCR method. Results: miR-20a was significantly up-regulated in pre-operation serum samples of
PCa patients compared to the serum samples of non-cancerous controls, however, in post-operation samples no significant
differences was showed. miR-26a level was not significantly decreased in pre and post-operation serum samples
compared to the serum samples of controls. However, the expression level ratios of both miR-20a and miR-26a were
insignificantly decreased when post-operation serum samples compared to pre-operation ones. Conclusion: Decrement
of circulating miR-20a and miR-26a in patients after surgery may reflect the tumoral origin of those microRNAs and
the results may use for tumor remnant monitoring after prostatectomy.

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