Here we show that the tumor microenvironment of phenotypically aggressive PDAC is characterized by the presence of EMT-Type tumor budding cells surrounded by numerous pro-tumoral leukocytes such as FOXP3+T-cells and CD163+ (M2-polarized) macrophages with concomitant reduction of anti-tumoral immune cell populations such as CD8+T-cells and iNOS+ (M1-polarized) macrophages, thus creating a privileged immune environment for the further tumor growth and metastasis. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is neoplasm.