MicroRNAs that affect prostate cancer: emphasis on prostate cancer in African Americans

Abstract

Although concerted efforts have been directed toward eradicating health disparities in the United States, the disease and mortality rates for African American men still are among the highest in the world. We focus here on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the signaling pathways of androgen receptors and growth factors that promote the progression of prostate cancer to more aggressive disease. We explore also how differential expression of miRNAs contributes to aggressive prostate cancer including that of African Americans.

Key words::

• African Americans
• androgens
• growth factors
• miRNAs
• prostate cancer
• receptors

Acknowledgments

This work was funded in part by the G12 RR03059-21A1 (NIH/RCMI), a pilot project on U54 Caucasian American118623 (NIH/NCI), and by DOD Grant W81XWH-10-1-0543.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.