Predictive biomarker discovery revealed that both transcription levels of the 9-gene set (TNPO1, NUP214, HDAC1, HNRNPA1, GATAD2A, FOSB, DDX17, PHF20, CREBBP) and Day 7 angiopoietin-2 protein levels significantly predict ARDS mortality. This evidence concerns the gene PHF20 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.