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Four MicroRNAs in Blood May Be Biomarkers of Pancreatic Cancer

BETHESDA, Md -- September 1, 2009 -- MicroRNAs have the potential to help identify patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in the online September 1 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

"The development of a minimally invasive test for the early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is greatly needed," said Sudhir Srivastava, PhD, Cancer Biomarkers Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Insititute, Rockville, Maryland.. "An important step is to identify biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, such as microRNAs, circulating in the bloodstream that can be used to distinguish individuals with pancreatic cancer from individuals without the disease."

To evaluate the feasibility of using miRNAs in the blood as biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, the researchers selected a set of 4 miRNAs that have been associated with pancreatic cancer -- miR-21, miR-210, miR-155, and miR-196a. Among these, miR-155 has been identified as a candidate biomarker for early pancreatic cancer, and expression of miR196a has been shown to increase during disease progression.

Levels of all 4 miRNAs were assessed in blood samples from 28 patients with pancreatic cancer and 19 healthy volunteers. The study population consisted of patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic cancer and healthy disease-free individuals recruited at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, between 2002 and 2008.

The team found that sensitivity using the panel of 4 miRNAs was 64%. The panel also showed an 89% specificity.

"Our results demonstrate proof of principle in developing a blood test based on miRNA signatures for pancreatic cancer," said senior author Subrata Sen, PhD, of M.D. Anderson's Department of Molecular Pathology. "More work is needed to evaluate this strategy in different grades and stages of the disease. We are in the process of initiating such studies in collaboration with members of EDRN." For example, the researchers will test the ability of the miRNAs to detect pancreatic cancer in separate patient populations.

SOURCE: National Institutes of Health

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