MicroRNA in pancreatic cancer: Pathological, diagnostic and therapeutic implications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNA molecules of 17-25 nucleotides (nt) in length, predicted to control the activity of about 30% of all protein-coding genes in mammals. Altered expressions of miRNAs are reported in various cancers and may associate with cancer pathogenesis, apoptosis, and cell growth, thereby functioning as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Recent reports showed that deregulation of miRNA contribute to tumor development and progression and hence, have diagnostic and prognostic value in several human malignancies. This review discusses the current status of miRNA in pancreatic cancer development, progression, diagnosis, and therapy. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.