{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:03:05Z","timestamp":1787022185615,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774915200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Science and Technology Innovation Program for Higher Education Institutions of Shanxi Province","award":["2024L288"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024L288"]}]},{"name":"Science and Technology Innovation Program for Higher Education Institutions of Shanxi Province","award":["2024L271"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024L271"]}]},{"name":"the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province","award":["202403021222315"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202403021222315"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The actin-binding protein CAPG (Capping Actin Protein, Gelsolin Like) is implicated in oncogenesis, but its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. This study combined bioinformatic analysis of TCGA\/GEO datasets, immunohistochemistry on clinical samples, and functional in vitro assays to define CAPG\u2019s significance in PDAC. We found CAPG significantly overexpressed in PDAC tissues (n\u2009=\u2009179 tumor vs. 171 normal, p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05), with levels correlating with advanced tumor stage (T3 vs. T1) and predicting poorer overall (p\u2009=\u20090.0085) and disease-free (p\u2009=\u20090.015) survival. In vitro, siRNA-mediated CAPG knockdown in PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells markedly inhibited proliferation (CCK-8 assay) and migration (wound healing assay), and significantly sensitized cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, CAPG knockdown was associated with reduced ERK1\/2 phosphorylation and Cyclin D1 expression, and ERK1\/2 inhibition phenocopied the anti-proliferative and chemosensitizing effects. Our results establish CAPG as a negative prognostic biomarker in PDAC, demonstrate its critical role in driving proliferation and migration\u2014potentially via modulating ERK pathway activity\u2014and highlight its promise as a therapeutic target whose inhibition can enhance chemotherapy efficacy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0346011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T17:24:47Z","timestamp":1774977887000},"page":"e0346011","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["CAPG serves as a prognostic biomarker and promotes proliferation and migration in pancreatic ductal 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