Title:Prostate Cancer, miRNAs, Metallothioneins and Resistance to Cytostatic Drugs
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Author(s): V. Pekarik, J. Gumulec, M. Masarik, R. Kizek and V. Adam
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Prostate carcinoma, markers, miRNA, circulating miRNAs, metallothionein, anti-cancer drugs, platinum based cytostatics, zinc, resistance, metastases
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) translationally repressing their target messenger RNAs due to their gene-regulatory functions play an
important but not unexpected role in a tumour development. More surprising are the findings that levels of various miRNAs are well correlated
with presence of specific tumours and formation of metastases. Moreover, these small regulatory molecules play a role in the resistance
of cancer cells to commonly used anti-cancer drugs, such as cisplatin, anthracyclines, and taxanes. In that respect, miRNAs become
very attractive target for potential therapeutic interventions. Improvements in the sensitivity of miRNAs detection techniques led to
discovery of circulating miRNAs which became very attractive non-invasive biomarker of cancer with a substantial predictive value. In
this review, the authors focus on i) oncogenic and anti-tumour acting miRNAs, ii) function of miRNAs in tumour progression, iii) possible
role of miRNAs in resistance to anticancer drugs, and iv) diagnostic potential of miRNAs for identification of cancer from circulating
miRNAs with special emphasis on prostate cancer. Moreover, relationship between miRNAs and expression of metallothionein is discussed
as a possible explanation of resistance against platinum based drugs.