Deoxythymidylate kinase (DTYMK) participates in cell cycle arrest to promote pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression regulated by miR-491-5p through TP53 and is associated with tumor immune infiltration.

Reduced DTYMK expression may be considered a novel prognostic biomarker for PAAD patients, associated with improved OS, DSS, and PFI. Immune escape may play an important facilitative role. Moreover, we found that miR-491-5p may negatively regulate DTYMK and participate in cell cycle arrest through TP53 to promote pancreatic cancer progression.