miR-34C Disrupts the Stemness of Purified CD133+ Prostatic Cancer Stem Cells.

OBJECTIVE:To find the potential micro-RNA (miRNA) that could determine the fate of prostate cancer stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We compared miRNA expression between our purified CD133+ prostatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) and CD133- cells. Sphere formation assay and matrigel-based cell invasion assay were applied to determine the stemness of CD133+ PCSCs after our manipulation of miRNA using miRNA mimic or miRNA inhibitor. RESULTS:In this study, we identified that miR-34C was under-expressed in the purified CD133+ PCSCs and enforced introduction of miR-34C attenuated the stemness of CD133+ PCSCs. Clinically, we also observed a negative correlation between miR-34C and CD133. CONCLUSION:Our data strongly suggest that miR-34C may play essential role in conferring castration resistance by equilibrating PSCS population.