Background/aim: To identify novel biomarkers for prostate cancer (PC), we evaluated changes of miRNAs contained in serum small extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients who received low dose rate prostate brachytherapy (BT).
Materials and methods: EVs were isolated from the pooled serum of 10 PC patients prior to and 1 month after BT. miRNA profiling and quantitation in EVs was performed by microarray analysis and RT-digital PCR, respectively. Expression of miRNA-93 in prostate tissue was evaluated using the TCGA database and its level in EVs was determined in 25 patients before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after BT.
Results: Profiling and quantitation identified miRNA-93 as significantly down-regulated in EVs after BT. TCGA database analysis showed that miRNA-93 was increased in PC tissue. miRNA-93 in EVs significantly decreased in 3, 6 and 12 months after BT.
Conclusion: miRNA-93 contained in serum EVs may be a novel diagnostic and monitoring biomarker for PC.
Keywords: Prostate cancer; extracellular vesicles; low dose rate prostate brachytherapy; microRNA-93; microarray analysis.
Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.