Issues

In this issue, Schniers and colleagues (pp. 3757–3774) demonstrate a functional link between PEPT1 and extracellular protein breakdown in the tumor microenvironment as a key determinant of pancreatic cancer growth, thus identifying PEPT1 as a potential therapeutic target for PDAC. The cover image shows a graphical representation of how tumor-derived lactic acid can lead to the transcriptional activation of MMPs and DPPIV, which can degrade collagen within the extracellular matrix to di- and tripeptides. Image courtesy of Bradley K. Schniers.