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. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc.