Diagnostic performance of microRNAs in the circulation in differential diagnosis of BPH, chronic prostatitis and prostate cancer

Abstract

Background: In this study, the objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of some miRNAs, which were shown to have a diagnostic value for prostate cancer (PCa), and the effect of chronic prostatitis in distinguishing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and PCa. Materials and methods: Serum levels of 11 miRNAs were investigated in BPH, chronic prostatitis and PCa patients. Measurements were performed using qRT-PCR. Results: In the analysis, serum levels of miR-375, -125b-5p, -30c-5p, -26b-5p, and let-7c-5p were downregulated in cancer compared with non-cancer group and AUCs of these miRNAs in distinguishing PCa group from non-cancer group were calculated as 0.781, 0.782, 0.762, 0.874, and 0.845, respectively. AUC of the combination of miR-375 and miR-26b-5p in distinguishing PCa group from non-cancer group was 0.891, AUC of these two miRNAs in distinguishing PCa group from BPH group was 0.944. Conclusion: In our study, 11 miRNAs were studied and 5 of these miRNAs were considered as biomarker candidates as these miRNAs, individually or combined, could be used to distinguish PCa from benign conditions. Furthermore, a higher specificity and sensitivity were obtained in distinguishing BPH and PCa when data for diagnostic potential of miRNAs were analyzed without including chronic prostatic group.