# SKA3 Expression as a Prognostic Factor for Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

## TL;DR

This study shows that SKA3 protein levels in pancreatic cancer tissues could help predict patient survival and outcomes.

## Contribution

The study identifies SKA3 as a potential prognostic biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

## Key findings

- SKA3 expression is significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer compared to normal tissues.
- Higher SKA3 mRNA levels are linked to worse survival in pancreatic cancer patients.
- Increased SKA3 protein levels are associated with better outcomes, especially in early-stage tumors.

## Abstract

The spindle and kinetochore-associated complex subunit 3 (SKA3) is a protein essential for proper chromosome segregation during mitosis and thus responsible for maintaining genome stability. Although its involvement in the pathogenesis of various cancer types has been reported, the potential clinicopathological significance of SKA3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to assess clinicopathological associations and prognostic value of SKA3 in PDAC. For this purpose, in-house immunohistochemical analysis on tissue macroarrays (TMAs), as well as a bioinformatic examination using publicly available RNA-Seq dataset, were performed. It was demonstrated that SKA3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly elevated in PDAC compared to control tissues. Upregulated mRNA expression constituted an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for the overall survival of PDAC patients, whereas altered SKA3 protein levels were associated with significantly better clinical outcomes. The last observation was particularly clear in the early-stage tumors. These findings render SKA3 a promising prognostic biomarker for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, further studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.