CD8A and neoplasm: Interest in FAK has been evident for some time, as the multifunctional protein has been studied for its role in invasion, migration, cell survival and proliferation.99–103 Emerging research has exposed a novel role for FAK in mediating immunosuppression.104 105 Infiltrating myeloid cells, specifically tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, depend on FAK to penetrate tumors with dense ECM.106 107 In line with these data, increased FAK activation in human PDAC samples correlates with decreased infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes, increased neutrophils and CD15+ granulocytes104 (figure 3).