NR5A2 discovering compounds that block tumor growth in PDAC.

Pancreatic cancers depend on driver molecules, oncogene proteins such as RAS. NR5A2 protein is a transcription factor and either activates or inhibits transcription through actions at hundreds of enhancers. It has unusual properties with effects appearing in multiple signaling networks. NR5A2 is a pluripotency reprogramming factor in the class nuclear receptor. Its controlling hormone is PIP3. Experiments suggest NR5A2 activation drives PDAC and inhibitors blunt cancer cell proliferation.