title: Changes in miR-143 and miR-21 expression and clinicopathological correlations in pancreatic cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite advances in clinical management of pancreatic cancer (PC), there is still room for improvement in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumor biology might pinpoint an alteration in expression of miRNAs as new diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression levels of miR-143 and miR-21 and correlations with clinicopathological features were analyzed in 26 matched pairs of tumor and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples collected from patients with PCs, including 18 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) and 8 adenocarcinomas of Vater's papilla (PVACs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to normal tissues, miR-143 was up-regulated in both PDAC and PVAC tumor samples (P = 0.0028 and P = 0.039, respectively). Conversely, alterations in miR-21 expression were significantly different in PDAC versus PVAC samples (P = 0.0049). Tumor levels of miR-21 were associated with preoperative serum levels of CA 19-9 (r = 0.63, P = 0.0022), whereas miR-143 expression was negatively correlated to lymph node spreading (r = -0.64; P = 0.0004). Correlation between miR-143 and miR-21 expression levels in patients with PDAC was observed (r = 0.53, P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deregulation of miR-143 and miR-21 may reflect histological features and biological behavior of different PCs. Association data with clinical parameters might indicate a prognostic significance for miR-143 and miR-21 in PCs.
authors: Department of Surgery, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Tavano
authors: Francesco Fabio
authors: FF
authors: di Mola
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Piepoli
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Panza
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Copetti
authors: Francesca Paola
authors: FP
authors: Burbaci
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Latiano
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Pellegrini
authors: Evaristo
authors: E
authors: Maiello
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Andriulli
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: di Sebastiano
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; C542359:MIRN143 microRNA, human; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs