We here show that, in stark contrast to a previous report in which FAK knock-down sensitised pancreatic cancer cells to ionizing radiation [43], FAK deletion (and a FAK kinase inhibitor) can suppress signalling to radiation-induced, p53-mediated induction of p21, and this is linked to radio-resistance in advanced SCC cells. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.