Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors and has a very poor prognosis. Recent studies show that Axl plays a key role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer tumors. However, the expression and role of Axl in pancreatic cancer has not been reported. This study aimed to reveal the clinical significance of Axl expression in patients with pancreatic cancer and determine its mechanisms. In this study, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to show that the expression of Axl in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tissues is significantly higher than its expression in corresponding non-tumor, normal tissues. By statistically analyzing clinical and pathological data, we found that there is a correlation between Axl expression and TNM stages and T stages, and Axl positive expression indicates a worse prognosis. According to in vitro assays, the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells decreased, and the apoptosis level increased with Axl knockdown. Meanwhile, the knockdown of Axl increased the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine. Moreover, AKT and ERK1/2 pathway proteins decreased with Axl knockdown. In conclusion, our results suggest that Axl is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and is a prognostic factor. It may also be a potential biomarker and therapy target for pancreatic cancer.