Fig. 2

CircNFIB1 is downregulated in PDAC and negatively correlates with LN metastasis. a and b circNFIB1 expression in human PDAC tissues (n = 160) according to LN status (a) and tumor stages (b) was assessed by qRT-PCR. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare different groups. c qRT-PCR analyzed the expression of circNFIB1 in primary PDAC tissues and paired metastatic LNs (n = 160). The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare different groups. d The expression of circNFIB1 in PDAC and normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. e and f Representative images (e) and percentages (f) for IHC staining showed that LYVE-1 indicated the lymphatic vessel density in PDAC tissues with differential circNFIB1 expression. Scale bars: 50 μm. Significance level was assessed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s tests for multiple comparisons. Figures with error bars showed the standard deviations of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01