ReviewMicroRNA-21 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with pancreatic cancer - A systematic review and meta-analysis

- This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the prognostic role of microRNA-21 in patients with pancreatic cancer.
- MicroRNA-21 upregulation is associated with poorer overall, disease-free, and progression-free survival (P<0.05).
- MicroRNA-21 upregulation is associated with a higher rate of metastatic lymphnodes and poor differentiated tumors (P<0.05).
- MicroRNA-21 maybe a component of precision medicine in patients with pancreatic cancer.

ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current knowledge regarding microRNA-21 and to evaluate its prognostic impact in patients with pancreatic cancer.MethodsWe conducted an electronic literature search to identify all published studies in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar databases from 2000 until August 2016.ResultsA total of 17 studies involving 1471 patients met the inclusion criteria for the quantitative synthesis. The microRNA-21 upregulation was significantly associated with poorer overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival. The subgroup analysis revealed that microRNA-21 overexpression has a significant higher prognostic value for patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Increased microRNA-21 was associated with a statistically significant higher rate of metastatic lymph nodes and poorly differentiated tumors.ConclusionsMicroRNA-21 upregulation in pancreatic cancer is associated with a significantly poorer overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival. MicroRNA-21 may be a useful prognostic biomarker, allowing stratification for chemotherapy administration, and being a component of precision medicine in patients with pancreatic cancer.