To investigate whether the anti-apoptotic effect of adiponectin in pancreatic cancer cells is mediated by AMPK, we detected the phosphorylation level of AMPK in AdipoR-knockdown H7 cells treated with adiponectin and found that AdipoR1 knockdown resulted in a decreased level of AMPK phosphorylation accompanied with an increase in caspase 3 activation. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and familial pancreatic carcinoma.