In this context, the contrasting results on the collagen I adhesion assay between Capan-1 cells and MIA PaCa-2 cells indicate that the de-adhesive response to EGF appears to be a feature characteristic of a metastatic cell, whereas stimulation of adhesion to collagen I by HRG-α appears to be a feature of a primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell. The gene discussed is NRG1; the disease is pancreatic adenocarcinoma.