Background: Early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently misdiagnosed, contributing to its high mortality rate. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for the early detection of PDAC.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using exosomal miRNAs from PDAC tissues and serum as biomarkers for early detection and prognosis.
Materials & methods: Exosomes were isolated from healthy individuals and PDAC patients via tissue and serum samples, then identified by analyzing their particle size and protein content. PDAC-specific exosomal miRNAs were identified using a microRNA array. A large cohort was subsequently recruited to validate these findings. The diagnostic capacity of the identified miRNAs was assessed using the Brier score and area under the curve (AUC). Verified miRNAs were also used to confirm intracellular mRNA change patterns.
Results: The combination of miR142-3p, miR148a-3p, and CA199 showed a higher AUC (0.747) compared to CA199 alone (0.716) in ROC curve analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations revealed that the two-miRNA panel was associated with multiple oncogenic pathways.
Discussion: 142-3p and miR148a-3p were identified as specific to PDAC and, when combined with CA199, improved diagnostic accuracy. Their involvement in oncogenic pathways underscores their relevance as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Conclusion: MiR142-3p and miR148a-3p, alongside CA199, show promise as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of PDAC, improving diagnostic accuracy.
Keywords: Exosomal miRNA; PDAC; diagnosis; exosome; prognosis.
© 2025 The Author(s). Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.