It has been shown that MMP-cleaved COL-I (cCOL-I) fibers promote pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) bioenergetics and the tumor growth and metastasis, so that PDAC patients with over-expression of cCOL-I and lower expression of DDR1 showed poor survival outcomes. The gene discussed is DDR1; the disease is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.