To better understand the role of HO-1 in modulating the immune system and to overcome the shortcomings of the nude mouse models of PDAC, we used an immunocompetent orthotopic mouse model of PDAC in which luciferase-expressing pancreatic tumor cells from KPC mice were implanted into the pancreas of immunocompetent syngeneic C57BL/6J mice. This evidence concerns the gene HMOX1 and pancreatic neoplasm.