It was found that TGFA was widely involved in the signaling pathways (PI3K-AKT pathway, Hepatocellualr carcinoma, Pancreatic cancer) from KEGG and was significantly upregulated in PAAD patients (n = 178) than the normal samples (n = 171, Fig 2A–2C, P<0.05). This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.