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Emerging roles of miRNAs in the development of pancreatic cancer

Mohadeseh Fathi1, Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard1, Atefe Abak2

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|July 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a dual role in pancreatic cancer, with some promoting tumor growth and others suppressing it. These epigenetic factors show promise as non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer.

Area of Science:

  • * Molecular Oncology
  • * Epigenetics
  • * Cancer Biology

Background:

  • * Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality, projected to become the third leading cause by 2025.
  • * Genetic mutations (KRAS, TP53, etc.) and epigenetic alterations drive pancreatic cancer development.
  • * MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key epigenetic regulators implicated in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To elucidate the dual role of oncomiRs and tumor suppressor miRNAs in pancreatic cancer evolution.
  • * To review the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer.
  • * To highlight miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and patient management.

Main Methods:

  • * Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating miRNA roles in pancreatic cancer.
  • * Analysis of identified oncomiRs and tumor suppressor miRNAs affecting cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.
  • * Evaluation of miRNA expression profiles for diagnostic and prognostic applications.

Main Results:

  • * Specific oncomiRs (e.g., miR-212, miR-506, miR-196b) promote pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis.
  • * Tumor suppressor miRNAs (e.g., miR-451a, miR-142, miR-340) modulate cell proliferation and cell cycle progression.
  • * miRNAs demonstrate potential as sensitive and specific non-invasive biomarkers for pancreatic cancer detection and prognosis.

Conclusions:

  • * MicroRNAs are critical epigenetic regulators in pancreatic cancer, acting as both oncomiRs and tumor suppressors.
  • * Dysregulation of specific miRNAs contributes to pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.
  • * miRNAs hold significant promise as novel, non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic tools for pancreatic cancer, facilitating earlier detection and improved patient outcomes.
Keywords:
BiomarkerPancreatic cancermiRNA

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