Ateeq et al. showed in prostate cancer cells that SPINK1 knockdown reduced proliferation, which could be restored by recombinant SPINK1 protein; silencing of EGFR resulted in a significant reduction in the pro-proliferative effects of SPINK1 on the cells (Ateeq et al., 2011). This evidence concerns the gene SPINK1 and prostate carcinoma.