In both patients’ cohorts, miR-152-3p and COPZ2 expression levels were inversely and significantly correlated with methylation levels in PCa samples (p = − 0.444, p < 0.0001, and p = − 0.435, p < 0.0001 for IPO Porto cohort; p = − 0.331, p < 0.0001 and p = − 0.561, p < 0.0001, TCGA Cohort, respectively). This evidence concerns the gene COPZ2 and posterior cortical atrophy.