AGER and keratoconus: We previously demonstrated that: (1) RAGE was highly expressed in mouse and human PDAC39; (2) Targeted genetic ablation of RAGE in mice prevented experimental acute pancreatitis79 and pancreatic cancer growth in the KC model39; and (3) RAGE was essential for pancreatitis79 and oncogenic K-Ras-mediated hypoxic signaling in pancreatic cancer development80.