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Analysis of MicroRNAs in Pancreatic Fine-Needle Aspirates Can Classify Benign and Malignant Tissues
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- 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® 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 × 10−10), as well as segregate PDAC FNA samples from other FNA samples (P = 1.1 × 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.
- Subjects :
- Male
Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Clinical Biochemistry
Biology
Article
RNA interference
Biopsy
microRNA
medicine
Gene silencing
Humans
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
medicine.diagnostic_test
Biochemistry (medical)
Biopsy, Needle
Cancer
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Pancreatic Neoplasms
MicroRNAs
medicine.anatomical_structure
Pancreatitis
Female
Pancreas
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....8da79323c6f072bc07b25851a2c96940