Long non-coding RNA DANCR regulate MLL3 and thereby it determines the progression of pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE Pancreatic cancer is a most lethal disease with low survival rates and therefore understanding its molecular level development for early diagnosis is key for designing improved therapeutic strategies. The long non-coding RNAs DANCR were reported as oncogenes, which are upregulated in many cancer types including pancreatic cancer. The role of DANCR and its correlation with tumour suppressor protein MLL3 expression are keen to understand different pathological stages of pancreatic cancer. METHODS The role of long non-coding RNAs DANCR in correlation with MLL3 was studied using histology, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. TM00314 strain of mutant mice in KRAS G12A and MPL gene were used since they are able to develop initial and advanced stage of pancreatic cancer after 3 and 5 months of growth. RESULTS The initial pancreatic cancer tissue showed low grade of dysplasia with diffusion of the solid nature of cells and in advanced stages giant cells and foci formation was observed. The expression of DANCR showed gradual upregulated expression as pancreatic cancer progressed. However, the expression of MLL3 was upregulated in the initial pancreatic condition, but its expression was restricted in advanced stages of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, the signals for MLL3 RNA expression were more when compared with the context of protein expression. CONCLUSIONS The results show that MLL3 was overexpressed in the initial pancreatic cancer to restrict cancer progression and in which DANCR had no role in regulating MLL3 but in advanced stages it downregulated MLL3.