MicroRNAs as biomarkers in prostate cancer: a scoping review with implications for the Pakistani healthcare setting
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Abstract
Objective: to critically evaluate the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in prostate cancer (PCa), with particular emphasis on their potential relevance to the Pakistani healthcare context.
Methods:
This scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2010 to June 2025. Regional literature was identified through the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, Pakistan Journal of Pathology, and Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal. Keywords included microRNA, prostate cancer, diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Original human studies evaluating miRNA expression in prostate cancer tissues or biological fluids with diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic implications were included. Reviews, conference abstracts, non-human studies, and studies lacking specific miRNA outcome data were excluded.
Results: Out of 64 identified records, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. miR-375 and miR-141 emerged as the most consistently dysregulated miRNAs with strong diagnostic potential, frequently incorporated into multi-miRNA panels outperforming prostate-specific antigen alone. Additional miRNAs, including miR-182, miR-200b, miR-21, miR-106b, and miR-1255b-5p, were predominantly upregulated and associated with disease presence, progression, and aggressive pathological features. miR-93 demonstrated post-treatment downregulation, indicating its potential role as a biomarker of therapeutic response.
Conclusion: Current evidence supports the promising role of miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. However, locally generated data remain scarce, highlighting the need for well-designed Pakistani studies to enable clinical translation.
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