To understand the mechanisms by which LBH589 sensitizes pancreatic cancer cell lines to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, we first analyzed the modulatory effects of LBH589 on c-FLIP, DR5, DR4 and TRAIL, which are directly involved in regulation of the TRAIL/death receptor-mediated apoptosis, in three pancreatic cancer cell lines. The gene discussed is CFLAR; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.