NIX Protein in Common Precursor Lesions (IMAGE) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Caption Evidence of activity involving the NIX protein (brown staining) is seen in common precursor lesions (PanIN) for pancreatic cancer. NIX activity escalates in full pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common of pancreas cancers. NIX is directly responsible for triggering mitophagy, or "self eating" of mitochondria. Credit Tuveson lab/CSHL Usage Restrictions Attribution needed License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.