In addition, the effect of protecting cells from gemcitabine treatment through knockdown of ASPP2 was significantly compromised by repression of autophagy in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ASPP2 determining the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine was dependent on its regulation of autophagy (Fig. 6f). This evidence concerns the gene TP53BP2 and familial pancreatic carcinoma.