Then, we conducted univariate Cox regression and Kaplan‒Meier analysis and found that six genes (DLAT, DLD, GLS, LIAS, LIPT1 and PDHA1) were significantly correlated with OS in 437 patients with PAAD (Additional file 1: Fig. S6 and Additional file 2: Table S4). This evidence concerns the gene DLD and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.