Expression of CSCs markers in PDAC cell lines following miR-21 knockout. (A) mRNA expression levels of CD44, CD133, CXCR4, ALDH1, and CD24 in the Panc-1 miR-21 KO cell line, compared with the Panc-1 vector alone. Relative mRNA expression levels of CD44, CD133, CXCR4, ALDH1, and CD24 are significantly reduced in miR-21 KO Panc-1 cells. The column graphic represents the average of three replicates of RNA isolated from Panc-1 control and its Kos. Data normalized according to RPII expression by fold analysis (n = 3, p < 0.05). (B) mRNA expression levels of CD44, CD133, CXCR4, ALDH1, and CD24 in the miR-21 KO MiaPaCa-2 cell line, compared with MiaPaCa-2 vector alone. Relative mRNA expression levels of CD44, CD133, CXCR4, ALDH1, and CD24 are significantly reduced in miR-21 KO MiaPaCa-2 cells. The column graphic represents the average of three replicates of RNA isolated from MiaPaCa-2 control and its Kos. Data normalized according to RNA polymerase II (RPII) expression by fold analysis (n = 3, p < 0.05). p-values are indicated as * p ≤ 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01; *** p ≤ 0.001; **** p ≤ 0.0001; error bars indicate SD.