MicroRNA-21 in urologic cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications.

The three most common kinds of urologic malignancies are prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, which typically cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Early detection and effective treatment are essential due to their high fatality rates. As a result, there is an urgent need for innovative research to improve the clinical management of patients with urologic cancers. A type of small noncoding RNAs of 22 nucleotides, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known for their important roles in a variety of developmental processes. Among these, microRNA-21 (miR-21) stands out as a commonly studied miRNA with implications in tumorigenesis and cancer development, particularly in urological tumors. Recent research has shed light on the dysregulation of miR-21 in urological tumors, offering insights into its potential as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic tool. This review delves into the pathogenesis of miR-21 in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, its utility as a cancer biomarker, and the therapeutic possibilities of targeting miR-21.

Critical roles of lncRNA-mediated autophagy in urologic malignancies.

Urologic oncology is a significant public health concern on a global scale. Recent research indicates that long chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and autophagy play crucial roles in various cancers, including urologic malignancies. This article provides a summary of the latest research findings, suggesting that lncRNA-mediated autophagy could either suppress or promote tumors in prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. The intricate network involving different lncRNAs, target genes, and mediated signaling pathways plays a crucial role in urological malignancies by modulating the autophagic process. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs can disrupt autophagy, leading to tumorigenesis, progression, and enhanced resistance to therapy. Consequently, targeting particular lncRNAs that control autophagy could serve as a dependable diagnostic tool and a promising prognostic biomarker in urologic oncology, while also holding potential as an effective therapeutic approach.

Causal relationship between prostatic diseases and prostate cancer: a mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Although it is thought that prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is related to prostate cancer (PCa), the underlying causal effects of these diseases are unclear. METHODS: We assessed the causal relationship between prostatitis or BPH and PCa using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. The data utilized in this study were sourced from genome-wide association study. The association of genetic variants from cohorts of prostatitis or BPH and PCa patients was determined using inverse-variance weighted and MR Egger regression techniques. The direction of chance was determined using independent genetic variants with genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-6). The accuracy of the results was confirmed using sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: MR analysis showed that BPH had a significant causal effect on PCa (Odds Ratio = 1.209, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.098-0.281, P = 5.079 × 10- 5) while prostatitis had no significant causal effect on PCa (P > 0.05). Additionally, the pleiotropic test and leave-one-out analysis showed the two-sample MR analyses were valid and reliable. CONCLUSIONS: This MR study supports that BPH has a positive causal effect on PCa, while genetically predicted prostatitis has no causal effect on PCa. Nonetheless, further studies should explore the underlying biochemical mechanism and potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of these diseases.

Crosstalk between m6A modification and autophagy in cancer.

Autophagy is a cellular self-degradation process that plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic functions in cells and organisms. Dysfunctional autophagy has been linked to various diseases, including cancer. In cancer, dysregulated autophagy is closely associated with the development of cancer and drug resistance, and it can have both oncogenic and oncostatic effects. Research evidence supports the connection between m6A modification and human diseases, particularly cancer. Abnormalities in m6A modification are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer by regulating the expression of oncogenes and oncostatic genes. There is an interaction between m6A modification and autophagy, both of which play significant roles in cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unclear. m6A modification can either directly inhibit autophagy or promote its initiation, but the complex relationship between m6A modification, autophagy, and cancer remains poorly understood. Therefore, this paper aims to review the dual role of m6A and autophagy in cancer, explore the impact of m6A modification on autophagy regulation, and discuss the crucial role of the m6A modification-autophagy axis in cancer progression and treatment resistance.

Predictive value of controlling nutritional status score for prostate cancer diagnosis.

Objective: This study aims to explore the predictive value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Methods: The data of 114 patients who underwent prostate needle biopsies from June 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between CONUT score and various clinical factors as well as PCa diagnosis was evaluated. Results: The pathological results classified patients into the PCa (n = 38) and non-PCa (n = 76) groups. Compared with the non-PCa group, the PCa group exhibited statistically significant differences in age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (PSAD), the proportion of PI-RADS ≥ 3 in mpMRI, and the CONUT score, prostate volume, lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol concentration (p < 0.05). ROC curve analyses indicated the diagnostic accuracy as follows: age (AUC = 0.709), prostate volume (AUC = 0.652), PSA (AUC = 0.689), PSAD (AUC = 0.76), PI-RADS ≥ 3 in mpMRI (AUC = 0.846), and CONUT score (AUC = 0.687). When CONUT score was combined with PSA and PSAD, AUC increased to 0.784. The AUC of CONUT score combined with PSA, PSAD, and mpMRI was 0.881, indicates a higher diagnostic value. Based on the optimal cut-off value of CONUT score, compared with the low CONUT score group, the high CONUT score group has a higher positive rate of PCa diagnosis (p < 0.05). Conclusion: CONUT score is an excellent auxiliary index for PCa diagnosis in addition to the commonly used PSA, PSAD, and mpMRI in clinical practice. Further prospective trials with a larger sample size are warranted to confirm the present study findings.

The role of miR-155 in urologic malignancies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression across multiple levels. They are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell cycle control. In recent years, miRNAs have emerged as pivotal regulatory molecules in the development and progression of tumors. Among these, miR-155 has garnered significant attention due to its high expression in various diseases, particularly urologic malignancies. Since an extensive corpus of studies having focused on the roles of miR-155 in various urologic malignancies, it is essential to summarize the current evidence on this topic through a comprehensive review. Altered miR-155 expression is related to various physiological and pathological processes, including immune response, inflammation, tumor development and treatment resistance. Notably, alterations in miR-155 expression have been observed in urologic malignancies as well. The up-regulation of miR-155 expression is commonly observed in urologic malignancies, contributing to their progression by targeting specific proteins and signaling pathways. This article provides a comprehensive review of the significant role played by miR-155 in the development of urologic malignancies. Furthermore, the potential of miR-155 as a biomarker and therapeutic target in urologic malignancies is also discussed.