Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01635-6 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Evaluation of serum ATX and LPA as potential diagnostic biomarkers in
patients with pancreatic cancer
Version: 
2 
Date: 
10 Dec 2020
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript has improved substantially, it is easier to read and follow. The
results are interesting an well worth publishing.
I have a comment about the statement in the discussion page 14 it is stated that
the results indicate that ATX and LPA levels might not be affected by jaundice. I
cannot se this has been shown or described in the manuscript. (Patients with
benign pancreatic disease had significantly lower values of bilirubin or alkaline
phosphatase compared to patients with pancreatic cancer according to table 2).
No calculations about this are stated in the results.
There are some room for editorial changes such as changing capital letters to
lowercase.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
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