shRNA-mediated knock-down of MUC4 in pancreatic cancer cells showed a decrease in the total levels and phosphorylated form of ErbB2 protein (at Tyr1248) and was shown that overexpression of MUC4 plays a crucial role in stabilising ErbB2 (Chaturvedi et al, 2007, 2008). This evidence concerns the gene MUC4 and familial pancreatic carcinoma.