- Rajbhandari, Nirakar;
- Hamilton, Michael;
- Quintero, Cynthia M;
- Ferguson, L Paige;
- Fox, Raymond;
- Schürch, Christian M;
- Wang, Jun;
- Nakamura, Mari;
- Lytle, Nikki K;
- McDermott, Matthew;
- Diaz, Emily;
- Pettit, Hannah;
- Kritzik, Marcie;
- Han, Haiyong;
- Cridebring, Derek;
- Wen, Kwun Wah;
- Tsai, Susan;
- Goggins, Michael G;
- Lowy, Andrew M;
- Wechsler-Reya, Robert J;
- Von Hoff, Daniel D;
- Newman, Aaron M;
- Reya, Tannishtha
Identifying the cells from which cancers arise is critical for understanding the molecular underpinnings of tumor evolution. To determine whether stem/progenitor cells can serve as cells of origin, we created a Msi2-CreERT2 knock-in mouse. When crossed to CAG-LSL-MycT58A mice, Msi2-CreERT2 mice developed multiple pancreatic cancer subtypes: ductal, acinar, adenosquamous, and rare anaplastic tumors. Combining single-cell genomics with computational analysis of developmental states and lineage trajectories, we demonstrate that MYC preferentially triggers transformation of the most immature MSI2+ pancreas cells into multi-lineage pre-cancer cells. These pre-cancer cells subsequently diverge to establish pancreatic cancer subtypes by activating distinct transcriptional programs and large-scale genomic changes, and enforced expression of specific signals like Ras can redirect subtype specification. This study shows that multiple pancreatic cancer subtypes can arise from a common pool of MSI2+ cells and provides a powerful model to understand and control the programs that shape divergent fates in pancreatic cancer.