The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream signaling intermediates, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways, play important roles in cellular proliferation, survival (inhibition of apoptosis) and drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is pancreatic neoplasm.