Long Non-Coding RNAs in Plasma and Urine as Potential Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

(1) Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in developed countries. Due to the existing biomarkers’ limitations, there is a stringent need to develop novel, better non-invasive markers for prostate cancer diagnostic and monitoring. (2) Material and methods: We assessed, by real-time PCR, the expression level of 84 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in plasma and the exosomes isolated from prostate cancer patients’ plasma and urine. (3) Results: Only a few lncRNAs were detected in high abundance (Ct between 25 and 30 cycles) across all sample types, the vast majority showing relatively modest levels (Ct > 30 cycles). As expected, plasma and plasma exosomes contain far more lncRNA species than urine, irrespective of whether they originate from patients or controls. We identified two statistically significant dysregulated lncRNAs in prostate cancer samples vs. controls: RBM5-AS1, 2.89 times downregulated in plasma (p = 0.036), and SNHG16, 13.69 times upregulated (p = 0.029) in urine exosomes. (4) Conclusions: These preliminary data need further validation in additional independent, more extensive studies before they can be considered as biomarkers for prostate cancer.