AUTHOR=Mir Rashid , Jan Ulfat , Barnawi Jameel , Algehainy Naseh A. , Jalal Mohammed M. , Altayar Malik A. , Almotairi Reema M. , Alnour Tarig Ms , Mustafa Syed Khalid , Al-Otaibi Abdulaziz S. , Althaqafy Adel D. , Alhathli Elham M. , Alrdahe Salma , Mir Mohammad Muzaffar , Sageer Nada Zaki , Babakr Abdullatif Taha , Khan Afaq Ahmad 

TITLE=Extracellular derived-exosomal micrornas in pancreatic cancer: investigating their diagnostic importance and potential targets for the prevention and treatment in pancreatic cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1669213

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2025.1669213

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Pancreatic cancer stands out as a deadly disease because patients receive late diagnosis and struggle with ineffective treatments. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) that exist inside lipid bilayers help tumors grow and spread while making cells resistant to treatment and enabling cell-to-cell communication. Their ability to stay stable in body fluids makes them good candidates for early disease detection and treatment prediction tests. Research shows that miR-21, miR-17-5p, and miR-155 exosomal miRNAs help pancreatic cancer progress but also provide new targets for medical treatment. This review consolidates current evidence on the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of exosomal miRNAs in pancreatic cancer, integrating mechanistic insights into key signaling pathways such as PTEN/PI3Kγ, KRAS/MAPK, and TGF-β. Compared with previous reports, this work provides a comparative framework linking disease-specific exomiR profiles to other cancers, highlighting miR-21, miR-17-5p, miR-155, and miR-301a as central modulators. We further discuss methodological challenges, translational opportunities, and future directions in developing exosome-based diagnostics and miRNA-loaded therapeutic platforms. Understanding exosomal miRNA networks can pave the way for precision detection and targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer