Dinaciclib is a pyrimidine derivative which potently inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases CDK2, CDK5, CDK1 and CDK9 in vitro with IC50 values in the nanomolar range, and inhibits transcription of apoptotic proteins, as well as growth, migration and colony formation of human pancreatic cancer cells, and of several other human cancers in vivo. This evidence concerns the gene CDK9 and cancer.