In this Perspectives, the authors contemplate the identity of the cell of origin for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. They hypothesize that a subset of cells that renew the adult organ physiologically or regenerate it upon severe tissue damage would be more susceptible to oncogenic transformation than mature, differentiated cells. They contend that such a cellular compartment could consist of putative pancreatic stem cells, progenitor cells, facultative stem cells or transdifferentiated bone marrow cells.
- Bo Kong
- Christoph W. Michalski
- Jörg Kleeff