Role of miRNA-182 and 187 as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) remains a leading malignancy in men, necessitating the discovery of novel non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and monitoring. Objectives: This study evaluates the diagnostic and prognostic role of microRNAs (miRNA-182 and miRNA-187) in differentiating PC from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted over 24 months at the Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, enrolling 110 male patients aged 50–80 years. Participants were categorized into three groups: newly diagnosed PC patients (n=40), BPH patients (n=30), and post-treatment PC patients (n=40). Clinical assessments, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for miRNA-182 and miRNA-187 expression were performed. Results: miRNA-182 levels were significantly elevated in PC patients (median: 2.80, range: 1.18–6.36) compared to BPH patients (median: 1.65, range: 0.7–2.35, P < 0.049). Following treatment, miRNA-182 levels declined significantly (median: 0.78, range: 0.23–3.01, P = 0.049), paralleling PSA reduction. No significant differences in miRNA-182 levels were observed between PC patients with and without bone metastases. Conversely, miRNA-187 was undetectable in all studied samples, suggesting its limited role as a biomarker. Conclusion: miRNA-182 demonstrates potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for PC, showing elevated expression in cancerous states and a significant decline post-treatment. However, miRNA-187 appears non-contributory in this context. Further large-scale studies are required to support the findings of this study and explore their clinical utility in PC management.