Bioinformatic Analysis of Expression Pattern and Prognostic Value of Oxidoreductase ERO1L in Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Objective: As people continue to succumb to the progression of various forms of cancer, the extreme lethal nature of pancreatic cancer in particular suggests that new therapeutic targets and novel regulatory mechanisms need to be explored. 

Materials and Methods: We examined ERO1L expression in different cancer types using  cBioPortal and Oncomine exploration tools.  Next, we analyzed ERO1L levels in pancreatic cancer and healthy tissues via online public databases. The prognostic value of ERO1L and its correlation with clinopathological features were investigated using the UCSC, TNMplot and cBioPortal databases. The correlation analyses were then performed using data obtained from GEPIA, cBioPortal and the Gene Expression Omnibus.

Results: The enzyme ERO1L was found to be highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and elevated in tumor compared to healthy tissue.  Its levels correlated with the hypoxia level and ER stress activation status of the pancreatic cancer tissues. ERO1L and VEGFA levels were also found to be correlated exclusively in tumor tissue, thus underlying its pro-oncogenic nature.

Conclusion: Oxidoreductase ERO1L is a potential prognostic marker and its oncogenic effects might be regulated via hypoxia/ER stress/ERO1L/VEGFA axis in pancreatic cancer.