title: It's a free for all--insulin-positive cells join the group of potential progenitors for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Despite significant efforts, the cellular compartment that gives rise to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal human cancers, remains obscure. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Gidekel Friedlander and colleagues demonstrate that under conditions of tissue damage, mutant Kras can drive previously unsuspected insulin-positive endocrine cells into PDA.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebrok
mesh_terms: D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin