Comparative Analysis of miRNA Expression 106a-5p and 375-3p and Proteins ERK1/2, p38, β-Catenin and E-Cadherin in Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second most common cause of death. PSA is performed in men to detect prostate cancer early, but PSA levels increase in both cancer and BPH. Therefore, there is an important need to understand prostate-specific molecular signatures. Considering the importance of the MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in the progression of many cancers and the fact that the miRNA expression profile is unique in each cancer type, evaluation of 106a-5p and 375-3p miRNAs may be an important factor in cancer detection. The research was carried out on tissue fragments taken from 30 patients with BPH and 30 with cancer. IHC and qRT-PCR were used to identify the expression of tested proteins, while the expression of miRNAs was examined using dPCR. The results of the present study showed significantly higher fluorescence intensity of miRNAs 106a-5p and 375-3p, and lower immunoreactivity and the expression of genes encoding ERK1/2, p38, β-catenin and E-cadherin in prostate cancer compared to BPH. It is possible that thanks to miRNA 106a-5p and 375-3p, the proteins we studied belonging to the MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways play a protective suppressor role in prostate cancer cells.