# PLA2G16 expression predicts prognosis and gemcitabine sensitivity in patients with pancreatic cancer

**Authors:** Xiaoyu Sun, Haiyang Jiang, Yufei Huang, Jing Xia, Jie Gu, Xinbing Sui, Xueni Sun, Yucheng Zhou

PMC · DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19517 · PeerJ · 2025-05-30

## TL;DR

PLA2G16 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and linked to poor survival and drug resistance, suggesting it could be a new target for treatment.

## Contribution

The study identifies PLA2G16 as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

## Key findings

- PLA2G16 overexpression correlates with poorer survival in pancreatic cancer patients.
- PLA2G16 knockdown increases gemcitabine sensitivity in resistant PANC-1 cells.
- PLA2G16 is associated with immune infiltration patterns and cancer-related pathways.

## Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive with limited treatment options. PLA2G16 has been implicated in cancer progression, but its role in prognosis and gemcitabine sensitivity in pancreatic cancer remains poorly understood.

Using TCGA data, the study assessed the correlation between PLA2G16 expression and patient survival. The expression of PLA2G16 in gemcitabine-resistant versus sensitive pancreatic cancer cells was also compared. siRNA-mediated knockdown of PLA2G16 was performed in drug-resistant PANC-1 cells to evaluate its impact on gemcitabine sensitivity. The relationship between PLA2G16 expression, immune infiltration, and molecular pathways in pancreatic cancer was explored using CIBERSORT and DAVID tools.

PLA2G16 was significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and associated with poorer patient survival. In PANC-1 cells, increased PLA2G16 expression correlated with gemcitabine resistance, and its knockdown improved drug sensitivity. PLA2G16 expression was linked to specific immune infiltration patterns and cancer-related molecular pathways.

Elevated PLA2G16 expression is associated with poor survival and gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer, making it a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** PLAAT3 (phospholipase A and acyltransferase 3) [NCBI Gene 11145]
- **Chemicals:** gemcitabine (PubChem CID 60750)
- **Diseases:** pancreatic cancer (MONDO:0005192)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** PLAAT3 (phospholipase A and acyltransferase 3) [NCBI Gene 11145] {aka AdPLA, FPLD9, H-REV107, H-REV107-1, HRASLS3, HREV107}
- **Diseases:** Pancreatic cancer (MESH:D010190), cancer (MESH:D009369)
- **Chemicals:** gemcitabine (MESH:D000093542)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Cell lines:** PANC-1 — Homo sapiens (Human), Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0480)

## Full text

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## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12129006/full.md

## References

26 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12129006/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12129006