To test this hypothesis, we investigated (1) the function of oxidative stress and NF-κB activity in BD-induced apoptosis in a pancreatic cancer cell line, PANC-1; (2) the involvement of ROS in regulating the p38-MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways in BD-treated PANC-1 cells; (3) the toxicity and anti-pancreatic cancer efficacy of BD in a pancreatic tumour xenograft animal model. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and familial pancreatic carcinoma.