A prognostic risk model was established based on the eight-gene signature, in which NDST1, LDHA, TES and SIAH2 were significantly upregulated and correlated with poor prognosis, whereas the declined levels of JMJD6, ENO3, ANKZF1 and CITED was associated with adverse survival outcomes of PAAD patients. Here, NDST1 is linked to pancreatic adenocarcinoma.