Using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/), we analysed PDAC tumour tissues (n = 179) and the adjacent tissues (n = 171), and found that GSDME, YBX1, MUC1 and MUC13 mRNAs are expressed at high levels in tumour tissues compared to the adjacent tissues (Fig. 6a and Extended Data Fig. 6a). Here, YBX1 is linked to neoplasm.