Development of sensitive and specific
biomarkers, preferably those circulating in body fluids is critical for early diagnosis of
cancer. This study performed profiling of
microRNAs (
miRNAs) in exocrine pancreatic secretions (pancreatic juice) by microarray analysis utilizing pancreatic juice from 6 pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients and two pooled samples from 6 non-pancreatic, non-healthy (NPNH) as controls. Differentially circulating
miRNAs were subsequently validated in 88 pancreatic juice samples from 50 PDAC, 19
chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and 19 NPNH controls. A marked difference in the profiles of four circulating
miRNAs (miR-205, miR-210, miR-492, and miR-1427) was observed in pancreatic juice collected from patients with PDAC and those without
pancreatic disease. Elevated levels of the four
miRNAs together predicted PDAC with a specificity of 88% and sensitivity of 87%. Inclusion of serum CA19-9 level increased the sensitivity to 91% and the specificity to 100%. Enrichment of the four
miRNAs in pancreatic juice was associated with decreased OS, as was the combination of miR-205 and miR-210. Higher contents of miR-205 and miR-210 were also associated with
lymph node metastasis. Elevated levels of circulating miR-205, miR-210, miR-492, and miR-1247 in pancreatic juice are, therefore, promising candidate
biomarkers of disease and poor prognosis in patients with PDAC.