Identification of G-protein signaling modulator 2 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: an exploration of its regulatory mechanisms.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a high rate of mortality. Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnosis. This study aimed to develop a more in-depth understanding of the disease.

Methods: A total of 177 patients with PAAD were recruited from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Microarray analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PAAD. The microarray data were adapted to the ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) for annotation and visualization, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. transwell migration assays were conducted to explore the molecular and functional characteristics of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells (PANC-1) with stable low expression of G-protein signaling modulator 2 (). Expression of and the associated hub genes were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results: The overexpression of was proved in PAAD, as compared with the healthy tissues, as well as its correlation with history of chronic pancreatitis, T stage, TNM stage and tumor grade. We described it as an independent prognostic factor and found that it could influence the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Silencing of restrained the and migration of the cells. Microarray analysis identified 1,631 DEGs in PAAD cells. The PPI network analysis identified hub genes including , , , , , , , and , and their relationship with was confirmed by qPCR.

Conclusions: is a novel prognostic factor and therapeutic target for PAAD. promoted the migration of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells .Targeting and its downstream genes may prolong the survival time of patients with PAAD.