Global MicroRNA profiling of pancreatic neuroendocrine Neoplasias

Chistoph Thorns*, Claudia Schurmann, Niklas Gebauer, Henri Wallaschofski, Christiane Kümpers, Veronica Bernard, Alfred C. Feller, Tobias Keck, Jens K. Habermann, Nehara Begum, Hendrik Lehnert, Georg Brabant

*Corresponding author for this work
49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN) are rare tumors with a poor prognosis. Although increasing data have accumulated on the molecular pathology of pNEN, very scarce data exist on microRNAs in pNEN and no data are published on microRNAs as potential biomarkers of pNEN in serum. This study aimed to identify microRNA signatures of pNEN in tissue and serum. Materials and Methods: We included tissue samples from 37 patients with pNEN, 9 patients with non-neoplastic pancreatic pathology, seven samples of micro-dissected pancreatic islets and serum samples of 27 patients with pNEN, as well as of 15 healthy volunteers. MicroRNA expression profiles were established using real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) for 754 microRNAs. Results: MicroRNA signatures differed between pNEN, pancreatic islets and total pancreas, with virtually no overlap between the groups of de-regulated microRNAs. Expression of miR-642 correlated with Ki67 (MiB1) score and miR-210 correlated with metastatic disease. When comparing microRNA levels in serum from patients with pNEN and healthy volunteers, 13 microRNAs were more abundant in the serum of patients. MiR-193b was also upregulated in pNEN tissue when compared to pancreatic islets and remained significantly increased in serum even when corrected for multiple testing. Conclusion: Evaluation of microRNAs appears to be promising in the assessment of pNEN. In particular, miR-193b, which is also increased in serum, may be a potential new biomarker of pNEN.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume34
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)2249-2254
Number of pages6
ISSN0250-7005
Publication statusPublished - 01.05.2014

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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