In vitro, MLKL overexpression decreased cancer cell growth, disrupted intercellular junctions, and induced a mesenchymal spindle-like morphology (Fig. 3b); measurement of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels and a 3D tumour sphere assay reflected the effects of MLKL overexpression on PDAC: it inhibited growth but enhanced invasiveness (Fig. 3c, d). Here, PCNA is linked to cancer.