The tumour suppressor miR-34c targets MET in prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The microRNA, miR-34c, is a well-established regulator of tumour suppression. It is downregulated in most forms of cancers and inhibits malignant growth by repressing genes involved in processes such as proliferation, anti-apoptosis, stemness, and migration. We have previously reported downregulation and tumour suppressive properties for miR-34c in prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: In this study, we set out to further characterize the mechanisms by which miR-34c deregulation contributes to PCa progression. The genes regulated by miR-34c in the PCa cell line PC3 were identified by microarray analyses and were found to be enriched in cell death, cell cycle, cellular growth, and cellular movement pathways. One of the identified targets was MET, a receptor tyrosine kinase activated by hepatocyte growth factor, that is crucial for metastatic progression. RESULTS: We confirmed the inhibitory effect of miR-34c on both MET transcript and protein levels. The binding of miR-34c to two binding sites in the 3'-UTR of MET was validated using luciferase reporter assays and target site blockers. The effect of this regulation on the miR-34c inhibition of the migratory phenotype was also confirmed. In addition, a significant inverse correlation between miR-34c expression levels and MET immunostaining was found in PCa patients. CONCLUSION: These findings provide a novel molecular mechanism of MET regulation in PCa and contribute to the increasing evidence that miR-34c has a key tumour suppressive role in PCa.

miR-205 negatively regulates the androgen receptor and is associated with adverse outcome of prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The microRNA-205 (miR-205) has been shown to be deregulated in prostate cancer (PCa). Here we continue to investigate the prognostic and therapeutic potential of this microRNA. METHODS: The expression of miR-205 is measured by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridisation in a well-documented PCa cohort. An AGO2-based RIP-Chip assay is used to identify targets that are verified with western blots, luciferase reporter assay, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression of miR-205 is inversely correlated to the occurrence of metastases and shortened overall survival, and is lower in castration-resistant PCa patients. The miR-205 expression is mainly localised to the basal cells of benign prostate tissues. Genes regulated by miR-205 are enriched in, for example, the MAPK/ERK, Toll-like receptor and IL-6 signaling pathways. We demonstrate binding of miR-205 to the 3'UTR of androgen receptor (AR) and decrease of both AR transcript and protein levels. This finding was corroborated in the patient cohort were miR-205 expression inversely correlated to AR immunostaining in malignant prostate cells and to serum levels of prostate-specific antigen, an androgen-regulated protein. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings imply that miR-205 might have therapeutic potential, especially for the castration resistant and currently untreatable form of PCa.