Detection of differentially expressed microRNAs in serum of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients: miR-196a could be a potential marker for poor prognosis.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Kong
Xiangyu
X
Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Du
Yiqi
Y
Wang
Guokun
G
Gao
Jun
J
Gong
Yanfang
Y
Li
Lei
L
Zhang
Zhuo
Z
Zhu
Jiaqi
J
Jing
Qing
Q
Qin
Yongwen
Y
Li
Zhaoshen
Z
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D015415:Biomarkers; C542543:MIRN196 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs