Analysis of microRNAs in pancreatic fine-needle aspirates can classify benign and malignant tissues.
BACKGROUND
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are RNA molecules that are involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, including those related to human cancers. The aim of this study was to determine, as a proof of principle, whether specific candidate miRNAs could be detected in fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and could accurately differentiate malignant from benign pancreatic tissues.


METHODS
We used TaqMan(R) assays to quantify miRNA levels in FNA samples collected in RNARetain (n = 16) and compared the results with a training set consisting of frozen macrodissected pancreatic samples (n = 20).


RESULTS
Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis confirmed that miRNA levels are affected in PDAC FNAs and correlate well with the changes observed in the training set of frozen pancreatic samples. Analysis of the amounts produced for a few specific miRNAs enabled identification of PDAC samples. The combination of miR-196a and miR-217 biomarkers further improved the ability to distinguish between healthy tissue, PDAC, and chronic pancreatitis in the training set (P = 8.2 x 10(-10)), as well as segregate PDAC FNA samples from other FNA samples (P = 1.1 x 10(-5)). Furthermore, we showed that miR-196a production is likely specific to PDAC cells and that its incidence paralleled the progression of PDAC.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the diagnostic potential of miRNAs in a clinical setting and has shown that miRNA analysis of pancreatic FNA biopsy samples can aid in the pathologic evaluation of suspicious cases and may provide a new strategy for improving the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.
Szafranska
Anna E
AE
Asuragen Inc., Austin, TX, USA.
Doleshal
Martina
M
Edmunds
Hayward S
HS
Gordon
Stuart
S
Luttges
Jutta
J
Munding
Johanna B
JB
Barth
Richard J
RJ
Gutmann
Edward J
EJ
Suriawinata
Arief A
AA
Marc Pipas
J
J
Tannapfel
Andrea
A
Korc
Murray
M
Hahn
Stephan A
SA
Labourier
Emmanuel
E
Tsongalis
Gregory J
GJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D035683:MicroRNAs