Researchers at The Eppley Cancer Institute at The University of Nebraska Medical Center have recently characterized a novel mucin gene (MUC17) and demonstrated that exists as two splice variants that encode for membrane-bound and secreted isoforms of the protein. Furthermore, they have developed a monoclonal antibody that recognizes both forms of MUC17. They have demonstrated that MUC17 is expressed in >80% of pancreatic cancer tissue samples but is not expressed in healthy parcreatic tissue or tissue from patients with pancreatitis. Additionally, they have localized its expression within the pancreas.