title: Context-dependent transformation of adult pancreatic cells by oncogenic K-Ras.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal human malignancies. To investigate the cellular origin(s) of this cancer, we determined the effect of PDAC-relevant gene mutations in distinct cell types of the adult pancreas. We show that a subpopulation of Pdx1-expressing cells is susceptible to oncogenic K-Ras-induced transformation without tissue injury, whereas insulin-expressing endocrine cells are completely refractory to transformation under these conditions. However, chronic pancreatic injury can alter their endocrine fate and allow them to serve as the cell of origin for exocrine neoplasia. These results suggest that one mechanism by which inflammation and/or tissue damage can promote neoplasia is by altering the fate of differentiated cells that are normally refractory to oncogenic stimulation.
authors.affiliation: The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Gidekel Friedlander
authors.forename: Gerald C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Nomeda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Girnius
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dibelius
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DePinho
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jacks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C495971:Hras protein, mouse; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)