Identifying Hub Genes and Pathways in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PAAD): A comprehensive in silico study.

[BACKGROUND] One of the most aggressive tumors is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PAAD), which is usually discovered at an advanced stage and is linked to a poor response to current treatment options and a significant risk of metastasis.

[METHODS] The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database selected GSE15471, GSE28735, GSE62165, and GSE16515. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were defined as having a logFC of >1 and ≤ -1 and an adjusted p-value of less than 0.05. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the four datasets were identified using the GEO2R tool. KEGG and GO databases were used to identify related pathways. PPIs were analyzed using Cytoscape and Gephi. A GEPIA analysis confirmed the target genes.

[RESULTS] The analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPI) along with data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) led to the identification of 66 hub genes and 819 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that these DEGs are significantly associated with functions related to cell adhesion, extracellular exosomes, structural components of the extracellular matrix, and the cytoskeleton in muscle cells. The expression levels of 8 genes-FN1, CXCR4, MMP9, PXDN, CBS, ALB, GPT2, and EGF-demonstrated a notable difference between normal and tumor samples, as identified through GEPIA analysis.

[CONCLUSION] The hub genes and related pathways that are connected to the development of PAAD were found in this study. These genes could serve as promising diagnostic biomarkers, offering a valuable chance to detect PAAD in its initial stages, leading to more effective treatment options.