Discovery and Validation of Circulating EVL mRNA as a Prognostic Biomarker in Pancreatic Cancer
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
Yan Du1, Kai Yao2, Qingbo Feng3
1Clinic Medical College, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China.
Background:
Circulating plasma mRNAs can be analyzed to identify putative cancer biomarkers. This study was conducted in an effort to detect plasma mRNA biomarkers capable of predicting pancreatic cancer (PACA) patient prognosis. Material and Methods. First, prognostic mRNAs that were differentially expressed in PACA in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were established, after which microarray expression profiles from PACA patient plasma samples were utilized to specifically identify potential prognostic plasma mRNA biomarkers associated with this cancer type. In total, plasma samples were then collected from 79 PACA patients and 19 healthy controls to confirm differential mRNA expression via qPCR, while Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to examine the link between mRNA expression and patient overall survival.
Results:
In total, three prognostic differentially expressed genes were identified in PACA patient plasma samples, including SMAP2, PTPN6, and EVL (Ena/VASP-like). Plasma EVL levels were confirmed via qPCR to be correlated with tumor pathology (p < 0.01), while the overall survival of patients with low plasma EVL levels was poor (p < 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analyses further confirmed that plasma EVL levels were independent predictors of PACA patient prognosis.
Conclusion:
We found that PACA is associated with the downregulation of plasma EVL mRNA levels, indicating that this mRNA may be a viable biomarker associated with patient prognosis.
Insights
Researchers identified plasma EVL mRNA as a promising biomarker for predicting pancreatic cancer (PACA) prognosis. Lower EVL levels in plasma correlate with poor survival, suggesting its potential for early detection and patient outcome assessment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Circulating plasma messenger RNAs (mRNAs) offer potential as cancer biomarkers.
- Identifying prognostic mRNA biomarkers for pancreatic cancer (PACA) is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect plasma mRNA biomarkers for predicting pancreatic cancer (PACA) patient prognosis.
- To identify specific plasma mRNA biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer.
Main Methods:
- Differential gene expression analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for PACA.
- Microarray analysis of PACA patient plasma samples to identify potential biomarkers.
- Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Kaplan-Meier analysis on 79 PACA patients and 19 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Three prognostic differentially expressed genes (SMAP2, PTPN6, EVL) were identified in PACA plasma.
- Plasma EVL mRNA levels correlated with tumor pathology (p < 0.01).
- Low plasma EVL levels were associated with poor overall survival (p < 0.01) and were independent predictors of prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatic cancer (PACA) is linked to downregulated plasma EVL mRNA levels.
- Plasma EVL mRNA represents a potential prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer patients.
More Related Videos
12:13Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
Published on: November 19, 2019
05:44Isolation of Proximal Fluids to Investigate the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Published on: November 5, 2020