Another characteristic of mouse pancreatic cancer is the formation of DCLK1+ cells at the stage of precancerous lesions, of which a subpopulation is believed to function as PDA stem cells (47–49), while pancreatic Tuft cells (which are also positive for DCLK1) seem to act inhibitory with respect to tumor formation (74, 75). This evidence concerns the gene DCLK1 and Patent ductus arteriosus.