Two known oestrogens receptors (ESR; estrogen receptor 1 (Erα) and estrogen receptor 2 (Erβ)) are expressed in the normal exocrine pancreas and in animal models the growth of pre-neoplastic pancreatic lesions or pancreatic carcinoma is inhibited by oestrogens5. Here, ESR1 is linked to exocrine pancreatic carcinoma.