PARProceedings of Anticancer Research2208-35452208-3553Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/PAR.v10i5.15446ArticleExploring the IL-20 Subfamily as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Cancerhttps://artdesignp.com/journal/PAR/10/5/10.26689/PAR.v10i5.15446LiXiaohui,YaoZhicheng,LinJizong,WangQingliang,XuShilei,XiongZhiyong,LiuBo20261052026-09-22Background: The interleukin‑20 (IL-20) subfamily plays oncogenic roles in various cancers. However, the significance of IL-20 subfamily proteins in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of the IL-20 subfamily in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The study used The Cancer Genome Atlas data and the Gene Expression Omnibus database to analyze mRNA levels of IL-20 family members in pancreatic cancer. ICGC clinical data were used to compare clinicopathological features. Lentivirus-transfected cells were used to study the function of the IL-20 receptor subunit (IL20RB) in vitro. Results: The IL-20 subfamily receptor IL20RB is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and positively correlates with poor overall survival. GEO data (GSE 15471) showed that IL20RB expression is higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than in adjacent pancreatic tissues. TCGA and ICGC data indicated that expression of IL20RB is positively associated with advanced tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. Enrichment of upregulated genes in the IL20RB-high expression group showed cancer-promoting pathways in pancreatic cancer. Results from in vitro cell experiments showed that overexpression of IL20RB increases the proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and knockdown of IL20RB produces opposite effects. Conclusion: The IL-20 subfamily receptor IL20RB may play a pro-tumorigenic role in pancreatic cancer and is a promising target for treatment.IL-20 subfamily, IL20RB, TCGA, GEO, Pancreatic cancer, Therapeutic target

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