Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains dismal, largely because this disease is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, making early detection a major challenge. Beyond the conventional biomarker CA19-9, emerging evidence suggests the utility of additional markers for distinguishing PDAC from normal pancreatic tissue or chronic pancreatitis. Among these, Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), implicated in various malignancies, has arisen as a promising candidate, particularly when expressed at elevated levels in pancreatic cancer. Recent insights into the oncogenic potential of GDF15 underscore its prognostic significance. METHODS: In this study, a comprehensive analysis was performed by integrating clinicopathological data with GDF15 expression profiles from a retrospective clinical cohort. Immunohistochemical staining was used to quantify GDF15 expression in tissue samples, and expression levels were stratified using a prognosis-oriented threshold. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to evaluate its association with overall survival. RESULTS: GDF15 was found to be markedly overexpressed in PDAC tissues relative to adjacent normal pancreas, supporting its potential role in promoting tumor development. In addition, high GDF15 levels were significantly linked to unfavorable clinical outcomes, underscoring its value as a prognostic indicator in pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contribute novel insights into the role of GDF15, reinforcing its potential as a valuable prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer.