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MicroRNAs as putative mediators of treatment response in prostate cancer

Nature Reviews Urology volume 9, pages 397–407 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of noncoding RNAs that function to regulate post-transcriptional gene expression, predominantly by translational repression. In addition to their role in prostate cancer initiation and progression, recent evidence suggests that miRNAs might also participate in treatment response across a range of therapies including radiation treatment, chemotherapy and androgen suppression. The mechanism of this regulation is thought to be multifactorial and is currently poorly understood. To date, only a small number of studies have examined the functional role of miRNAs in response to prostate cancer treatment. Elucidating the role of miRNAs in treatment response following radiotherapy, chemotherapy and androgen suppression will provide new avenues of investigation for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Key Points

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of noncoding molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression

  • miRNAs have been implicated in gene expression in prostate cancer, and can putatively be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in association with well-described markers, such as PSA

  • miRNAs have been suggested to be involved in modulating response of prostate cancer to treatment, including androgen suppression, chemotherapy and radiation

  • The vast majority of studies examining the role of miRNAs in prostate cancer treatment response have focused on prostatic cell lines; however, a number of studies on clinical samples have recently been reported

  • More clinical studies are required before miRNAs can be used as response biomarkers in prostate cancer

  • miRNA technology remains an exciting tool for both the elucidation of the mechanisms by which prostate cancer cells are inherently treatment resistant, and as a novel method of overcoming this resistance

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Figure 1: The miRNA processing pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Academic Unit of Clinical and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, St James' Hospital & Trinity College, University of Dublin, James's Street, Dublin, 8, Ireland

    Fardod O'Kelly, Laure Marignol, Armelle Meunier, Thomas H. Lynch, Antoinette S. Perry & Donal Hollywood

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  1. Fardod O'Kelly
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  2. Laure Marignol
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  3. Armelle Meunier
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  4. Thomas H. Lynch
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  5. Antoinette S. Perry
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  6. Donal Hollywood
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Contributions

F. O'Kelly and L. Marignol are joint first authors of the manuscript, having contributed equally to the researching of data for the article, discussion of content and reviewing the manuscript before submission. A. Perry also contributed to researching data for the article, discussion of content and reviewed the manuscript before submission. A. Meunier researched data for the article and reviewed the manuscript before submission. D. Hollywood made a substantial contribution to discussion of contents and reviewed the manuscript before submission. T. H. Lynch reviewed the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Donal Hollywood.

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O'Kelly, F., Marignol, L., Meunier, A. et al. MicroRNAs as putative mediators of treatment response in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 9, 397–407 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2012.104

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