MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs and are involved in the development, proliferation, and pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa). Urinary miRNAs are promising non-invasive biomarkers for PCa diagnosis because of their stability in urine. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic value of urinary miR-1913 to miR-3659 ratio in PCa patients and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) controls.
Candidate miRNAs were identified from urinary microarray data and tested by real-time PCR. The urinary miR-1913 to miR-3659 expression ratio was selected and tested in 83 urine samples (44 PCa and 39 BPH) to confirm its validity as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for PCa.
The expression ratio of urinary miR-1913 to miR-3659 was significantly higher in PCa than in BPH (p=0.002) and showed a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than prostate-specific antigen (PSA; 0.821 vs. 0.518) in patients within the PSA gray zone (tPSA: 3-10 ng/mL), with sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 78.6% (p=0.003).
The urinary miR-1913 to miR-3659 expression ratio was increased in PCa and may serve as a useful supplemental biomarker to PSA for the diagnosis of PCa, particularly in patients within the PSA gray zone.

© The Korean Urological Association, 2021.

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