Gap-App: A sex-distinct AI-based predictor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma survival as a web application open to patients and physicians.

ABSTRACT

In this study, using RNA-Seq gene expression data and advanced machine learning techniques, we identified distinct gene expression profiles between male and female pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Building upon this insight, we developed sex-specific 3-year survival predictive models along with a single comprehensive model. These sex-specific models outperformed the single general model despite the smaller sample sizes with accuracies of 88.47% for males and 88.94% for females, respectively. We further refined our models by using the most important features extracted from these initial models. The refined sex-specific predictive models achieved improved accuracies of 92.62% for males and 91.96% for females, respectively, versus an accuracy of 87.84% from the refined comprehensive model, further highlighting the value of sex-specific analysis. Based on these findings, we created Gap-App, a web application that enables the use of individual gene expression profiles combined with sex information for personalized survival predictions. Gap-App, the first online tool aiming to bridge the gap between complex genomic data and clinical application and facilitating more precise and individualized cancer care, marks a significant advancement in personalized prognosis. The study not only underscores the importance of acknowledging sex differences in personalized prognosis, but also sets the stage for the shift from traditional one-size-fits-all to more personalized and targeted medicine. The GAP-App service is freely available at www.gap-app.org .