miRNAs and radiotherapy response in prostate cancer

Abstract

Background: Gaining insight into microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes that regulate the therapeutic response of cancer diseases in general and prostate cancer (PCa) in particular is an important issue in current molecular biomedicine and allows the discovery of predictive miRNA targets. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the available data on the influence of radiotherapy (RT) on miRNA expression and on miRNA involved in radiotherapy response in PCa. Materials and methods: The data used in this review were extracted from research papers and the DIANA, STRING, and other databases with a special focus on the mechanisms of radiotherapy PCa response and the miRNA involved and associated genes. Results and Discussion: A search for miRNA prognostic and therapeutic effectiveness markers should rely on both the data of recent experimental studies on the influence of RT on miRNA expression and miRNAs involved in regulation of radiosensitivity in PCa and on bioinformatics resources. miRNA panels and genes targeted by them and involved in radioresponse regulation highlighted by meta-analysis and cross-analysis of the data in the present review have. Conclusion: Selected miRNA and gene panel has good potential as prognostic and radiotherapy effectiveness markers for PCa and, moreover, as radiotherapy effectiveness markers in other types of cancer, as the proposed model is not specific to PCa, which opens up opportunities for the development of a universal diagnostic system (or several intersecting systems) for oncology radiotherapy in general.