Increasing evidence shows that dysregulation of microRNAs is correlated with tumor development. This study was performed to determine the expression of miR-141 and investigate its clinical significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Taqman quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect miR-141 expressions in 94 PDAC tissues and 16 nontumorous pancreatic tissues. Correlations between miR-141 expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients were statistically analyzed. The effects of miR-141 expression on growth and apoptosis of PDAC cell line (PANC-1) were determined by MTT, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Potential target genes were identified by luciferase reporter and Western blot assays. The expression level of miR-141 in PDAC tissues was significantly lower than that in corresponding nontumorous tissues. Downregulation of miR-141 correlated with poorer pT and pN status, advanced clinical stage, and lymphatic invasion. Also, low miR-141 expression in PDAC tissues was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival, and multivariate analysis showed that miR-141 was an independent prognostic factor for PDAC patients. Further, functional researches suggested that miR-141 inhibits growth and colony formation, and enhances caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in PANC-1 cells by targeting Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP1). Therefore, miR-141 is an independent prognostic factor for PDAC patients, and functions as a tumor suppressor gene by targeting YAP1.

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