The p65 subunit of NF-κB is constitutively activated in most human pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines (Wang et al, 1999), and this activation has been shown to have important functions in tumourigenesis and liver metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Fujioka et al, 2003). The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.