The work presented here shows that when Kras is mutated, HO-1 expression increases mainly in the stromal compartment of the pancreas, especially in the context of disease initiation by pancreatitis or in the LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) genetic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Here, PDX1 is linked to pancreatic neoplasm.