Fig. 9

Clinical implication of circNFIB1 as miR-486-5p sponge in PDAC. a qRT-PCR analysis of miR-486-5p expression in PDAC tissues (n = 160) paired with NATs (n = 160). The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare different groups. b miR-486-5p expression in human PDAC tissues (n = 160) according to the LN status was assessed by qRT-PCR. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare different groups. c and d Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed the OS (c) and DFS (d) of PDAC patients with low vs. high circNFIB1 expression. The cutoff value was the median expression of circNFIB1. e and f Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed the OS (e) and DFS (f) of PDAC patients with low vs. high miR-486-5p expression. The cutoff value was the median expression of miR-486-5p. g Correlation analysis of circNFIB1 and VEGF-C expression analyzed by qRT-PCR in PDAC tissues (n = 160). h Correlation analysis of miR-486-5p and VEGF-C expression analyzed by qRT-PCR in PDAC tissues (n = 160). i Proposed model for the role of circNFIB1 on promoting lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis via the miR-486-5p/PIK3R1/VEGF-C axis in PDAC. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01