Fig. 5

HSF1 was potential downstream molecule of EGFR in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis. a The possible related biological pathways of HSF1 and its related proteins in pancreatic cancer. b IHC staining of EGFR in all stages of the tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer in KC mice. c The relative EGFR expression in normal pancreas tissues and pancreatic cancer tissues according to TCGA & GTEx datasets. d The relationship between EGFR and the OS of pancreatic cancer according to TCGA database. e The forest graph showed HR and its 95% CI of EGFR in pancreatic cancer patients’ OS according to TCGA database. (f) GSEA analysis of biological pathways related to pancreatic cancer in EGFR high expression group vs EGFR low expression group according to TCGA database. g-h The relationship between HSF1 and EGFR singling pathway related molecules (EGFR (g)/MEK (h)) in pancreatic cancer. i-j The relationship between EGFR and HSF1 target genes (HSPA4 (i)/HSP90AA1(j)) in pancreatic cancer. k IHC staining of EGFR, HSF1, HSP90 and Ki67-positive areas in early/late PanINs of KC mice. l GSEA analysis of HSF1 binding motifs/signature (target genes gene sets, represented by RGAANNTTC_V$HSF1_01 and HSF1_01) in EGFR high expression group vs EGFR low expression group according to a TCGA datasets of pancreatic cancer. Scale bars = 25/50 μm. * P < 0.05