The TRAIL- or gemcitabine-induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells, enhanced by SmacN7, may be associated with the activity of intracellular pro-apoptotic proteins such as Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct IAP binding protein with low PI), cytochrome C, XIAP and caspase-3. This evidence concerns the gene CYCS and familial pancreatic carcinoma.