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Review
. 2014 Jun 1;347(2):167-74.
doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.02.015. Epub 2014 Feb 20.

MicroRNAs in pancreatic malignancy: progress and promises

Sanjeev K Srivastava  1 , Sumit Arora  1 , Seema Singh  1 , Arun Bhardwaj  1 , Courey Averett  1 , Ajay P Singh  2
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNAs in pancreatic malignancy: progress and promises

Sanjeev K Srivastava et al. Cancer Lett. .

Abstract

Despite progress in recent years, pancreatic cancer still remains a major clinical challenge. Its incidence and mortality rates have been on consistent rise underscoring the critical need for novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools for its effective management. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are deregulated in a variety of malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, and play a significant role in the initiation, progression and metastasis. Furthermore, their vital involvement in the therapeutic resistance of cancer has also been established. Hence, there has been enormous interest worldwide in investigating the roles of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and exploiting their utility for clinical benefit. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the role of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer and discuss their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and as novel targets for development of effective therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Drug resistance; Metastasis; MicroRNAs; Pancreatic cancer; Prognosis and therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Multifaceted roles of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer pathobiology
Illustrative overview of the roles miRNAs play in carcinogenic processes. Selective representation of a set of aberrantly expressed miRNAs associated with pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, survival, chemo-resistance invasion and metastasis. #Overexpressed in fibroblast cells as a result of their interaction with tumor cells; ##Overexpressed in pancreatic tumor cells through their cross-talk with pancreatic stellate cells.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Potential implications of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy
Schematic representation showing that differentially expressed miRNAs (signatures miRNAs) could serve as basis for early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, restoration of tumor suppressor miRNAs and or inhibition of oncogenic miRNAs could be used as a novel therapeutic approach against pancreatic cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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