Aberrant expression of circulating microRNAs in pancreatic cancer patients and in patients with gemcitabine resistance

Objective To investigate the differentially expressed circulating microRNAs of pancreatic cancer,and of the pancreatic cancer with gemcitabine resistance,to find potential biomarkers for noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the prediction of prognosis of gemcitabine.Methods To screen the highly deregulated microRNAs in the plasma samples of pancreatic cancer,and in the plasma samples ofpancreatic cancer patients with gemcitabine resistance using reverse transcription and quantitative PCR.Results Twenty-eight microRNAs expressing differentially with fold-exchange ＞ 2 was screened out comparing pancreatic cancer and healthy controls,and 28 microRNAs was screened out comparing gemcitabine resistant patients and gemcitabine positive patients.Conclusions There is a specific circulating mIcroRNA profile in pancreatic cancer as well as in pancreatic cancer with gemcitabine resistance.These profiles may have potential in noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the prediction of prognosis of gemcitabine. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms ;  Plasma;  Circulating microRNA ;  Gemcitabine;  Drug resistance ;  MicroRNAs