The authors indicated SDC1 as a promising molecular marker and therapeutic or diagnostic target for pancreatic cancer, together with other genes, i.e. MET (proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase Met), MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase), THBS1 (thrombospondin 1) and TOP2A (DNA topoisomerase II alpha) (53). The gene discussed is MELK; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.