THE INFLUENCE OF RADIOTHERAPY ON CIRCULATING miRNA EXPRESSION LEVELS AND HEMORHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES IN PROSTATE CANCER

Abstract

Background: In prostate cancer, radiotherapy has therapeutic effect and increase treatment efficacy and thus the survival rate. However radio-resistant tumors may relapse and metastases. In cancer cells, some genes effected by radiation has direct effects on results of radiotherapy. MikroRNAs (miRNAs) are the molecules which regulate some processes related with internal and external stresses. It has been showed that radiation resulted in some changes on synthesis of miRNAs and so, cellular responses in tumor cells. The aim of our study was to investigate expression levels of miR-20a and miR-106b and some biochemical parameters, and plasma viscosity in patients with prostate cancer, before and after radiotherapy.

Materials and Methods: 35 patients who admitted to Radiation Oncology Department for prostat cancer radiotherapy were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained before and after radiotherapy. miR-20a and miR-106b expressions were analyzed by using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PZR). Plasma viscosity values were measured by using Harkness capillary viscometer. Blood albumin and total protein levels were analyzed by autoanalyser system. Leukocyte, lymphocyte, erythrocyte, platelet and neutrophil counts were measured by automatic cell counter.

Results: We found that miR-20a and miR-106b expression levels, and plasma viscosity values increased in the patients after radiotherapy. We also found that erythrocyte and platelet counts, albumin and total protein levels did not significantly change while PSA, fPSA, leukocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts significantly decreased in patients after radiation treatment. From Pearson’s rank correlation analysis, we found that miR-20a expression levels positively correlated with miR-106b expression levels after radiotherapy group (r=0.722, p=0.01). The levels of fPSA correlated significantly with miR-106b expression levels before radiotherapy group (r=-0.598, p=0.014). Additionally, the leukocyte count correlated significantly with miR-20a expression levels before radiotherapy group (r=−0.474, p=0.035).  

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: Our findings showed that expression levels of some miRNAs such as miR-20a and miR-106b and hemorheological parameters were changed in prostate cancer patient after radiation treatment. These changes might be an important factor for cancer treatment and metastasis. Effects of these changes on prostate cancer patients must be clarified with further studies. 

Keywords

• Radiotherapy,prostate cancer,miR-20a,miR-106b,plasma viscosity

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