Recent advances in our understanding of the genetics and epigenetics of pancreatic cancer have revealed that alterations in several tumor-related genes, including K-ras, p53, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and epidermal growth factor receptor [4–6], may underlie the aggressiveness of this neoplasm [7]. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.