The generation of this DEVD-cleaving (effector caspase) activity was measured in extracts from the pancreatic carcinoma cell lines upon incubation with cytochrome c. For a quantitative assessment of the activity, DEVD-cleaving activity was calculated by linear regression analysis as the regression coefficient of free AMC fluorescence under conditions of substrate saturation. This evidence concerns the gene CYCS and exocrine pancreatic carcinoma.