DSCR9 and its significantly correlated genes might be mainly involved in the tumorigenesis of PC by regulating Ras signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, all of which might promote the proliferation and migration of tumor cells (Additional file 1: Figure S1D, Additional file 2: S2D). This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and neoplasm.