It has been shown that IL-13 promoted pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in association with the increased phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK (ERK1/2) in ASPC-1, Capan-1, and COLO-357 cells, and that both the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2 and PI3-kinase activity was enhanced by IL-13 in pancreatic cell lines [93]. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and familial pancreatic carcinoma.