The functional relevance of TMPRSS4 or ECT2 in PDAC cells has not previously been determined, although TMPRSS4 has been demonstrated to induce invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition ( EMT) of colorectal cancer cells [24, 25] and ECT2 overexpression has been primarily linked to cell proliferation, invasion and migration in lung cancer or glioma cells [26]. Here, ECT2 is linked to central nervous system cancer.