Derivation of primary PDAC cell lines were performed as previously described36 (link). Fresh tumors were minced with sterile razor blades, digested with dispase II (17105041, Gibco, 4 mg/ml)/collagenase IV (17104019, Gibco, 4 mg/ml)/RPMI for 1 h at 37°C, filtered by a 70 μm cell strainer, resuspended in RPMI/20%FBS and then seeded on collagen I coated plates (087747, Fisher Scientific). Cells were maintained in RPMI medium with 20% FBS and 1% penicillin, streptomycin and amphotericin B (PSA) antibiotic mixture. Cancer cells were further purified by FACS based on YFP or E-Cadherin expression (anti-E-cadherin antibody, 50-3249-82, eBioscience, 1:100). The sorted cells, using BD FACSAria™ II sorter (South Campus Flow Cytometry Core Lab of MD Anderson Cancer Center) were subsequently expanded in vitro. All studies were performed on cells cultivated less than 30 passages. As these are primary cell lines no further authentication methods were applicable and no mycoplasma tests were performed.