CASP3 and familial pancreatic carcinoma: Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential can lead to swelling of mitochondrial membrane and release of cytochrome C to cytosol, which activates caspase 3 and apoptosis.[38] Congruent with activation of this pathway, cleavage of caspase 3 and cell death occurred after exposure of the pancreatic cancer cells to IRE1α inhibitors.