We have found that: 1) ST3Gal III mRNA expression levels correlated with SLex surface expression; 2) ST3Gal III induced sialylation increased pancreatic cancer adhesion to rh-E-Selectin and IL1-β pre-stimulated HSE cells, via SLex-E-selectin interaction; 3) a positive correlation between migration and ST3Gal III and SLex expression; and 4) the intrasplenic injection of ST3Gal III overexpressing cell lines in athymic nude mice induced an increase in tumourigenesis and a decrease in survival. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and familial pancreatic carcinoma.