Detection of Differentially Expressed microRNAs in Serum of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients: miR-196a Could Be a Potential Marker for Poor Prognosis

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 602 - 609
• Main Authors: Kong, Xiangyu, Du, Yiqi, Wang, Guokun, Gao, Jun, Gong, Yanfang, Li, Lei, Zhang, Zhuo, Zhu, Jiaqi, Jing, Qing, Qin, Yongwen, Li, Zhaoshen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.02.2011; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - physiology; Health aspects; Hepatology; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Article; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatitis; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Transplant Surgery; Tumors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Biomarker; Pancreatic cancer; miR-196a; Serum microRNA; Human; Prognosis; Biological marker; Metabolic diseases; Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma; Malignant tumor; Pancreas cancer; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Serum; Cancer; Pancreatic disease
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-010-1285-3

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have long been established to remain stable in circulation, and dysregulated miRNAs in serum of tumor patients could potentially serve as novel biomarkers. Aims To determine whether certain serum miRNAs could represent potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods About 35 patients diagnosed with PDAC at different stages between August 2007 and January 2009 were enrolled in this study. Sera from 15 chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and 15 healthy individuals were treated as controls. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays specific to mature miRNAs were used to quantify the relative levels of those PDAC-associated serum miRNAs. Results Of the seven miRNAs detected, three were identified as differentially expressed in PDAC and control groups. miR-21 was able to distinguish PDAC patients from CP (p = 0.033) and healthy subjects (p = 0.001), whereas miR-155 and miR-196a were able to differentiate sera with sick pancreas (PDAC/CP) from normal pancreas (p = 0.0002 and 0.010, respectively). Serum miR-196a expression levels in unresectable PDAC (stages III and IV) patients were significantly higher than those in resectable (stages I and II) patients (p = 0.001). Furthermore, serum miR-196a expression level was found to have a potential value in predicting median survival time of PDAC patients (high-level miR-196a, 6.1 months, (95% CI, 4.49-7.72) versus low-level miR-196a, 12.00 months, (95% CI, 5.92-18.08), p = 0.007). Conclusions Serum miR-196a could be a potential noninvasive marker for PDAC prognosis and selection of laparotomy.