Expression profile analysis of microRNAs in prostate cancer by next-generation sequencing

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of tumor mortality among males in western societies. In China, the diagnostic and fatality rate of PCa is increasing yearly. METHODS To characterize underlying molecular mechanisms, the microRNA (miRNA) profile of high‐grade PCa, low‐grade PCa, and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were compared using high‐throughput Illumina sequencing and quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) methods. Moreover, a variety of biological information softwares and databases were applied to predict the target genes of miRNA, molecular functions, and signal pathways. RESULTS Eighteen miRNAs were differentially expressed (fold change ≥2, P