MicroRNAs as biomarkers for early diagnosis, targeting and prognosis of prostate cancer.

Globally, prostate cancer (PC) is leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men worldwide. Despite significant advances in the treatment and management of this disease, the cure rates for PC remains low, largely due to late detection. PC detection is mostly reliant on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE); however, due to the low positive predictive value of current diagnostics, there is an urgent need to identify new accurate biomarkers. Recent studies support the biological role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the initiation and progression of PC, as well as their potential as novel biomarkers for patients' diagnosis, prognosis, and disease relapse. In the advanced stages, cancer-cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) may constitute a significant part of circulating vesicles and cause detectable changes in the plasma vesicular miRNA profile. Recent computational model for the identification of miRNA biomarkers discussed. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs can be utilized to target PC cells. In this article, the current understanding of the role of microRNAs and exosomes in the pathogenesis and their significance in PC prognosis, early diagnosis, chemoresistance, and treatment are reviewed.

Metabolic syndrome in patients with prostate cancer undergoing intermittent androgen-deprivation therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of metabolic syndrome in men with prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), especially intermittent type, has not been completely evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate metabolic syndrome in men with PCa undergoing intermittent ADT. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, we studied the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in 190 patients who were undergoing intermittent ADT. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. All metabolic parameters, including lipid profile, blood glucose, blood pressures, and waist circumferences of the patients were measured six and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 67.5 ± 6.74 years. The incidence of metabolic syndrome after six and 12 months was 6.8% and 14.7%, respectively. Analysis of various components of the metabolic syndrome revealed that patients had significantly higher overall prevalence of hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia in their six- and 12-month followups, but blood pressure has not been changed in the same period except for diastolic blood pressure after six months. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in patients receiving intermittent ADT, it was lower than other studies that treated the same patients with continuous ADT. Also it seems that intermittent ADT has less metabolic complications than continuous ADT and could be used as a safe alternative in patients with advanced and metastatic PCa.