Interestingly, MG132 rapidly (within 4 h) increased levels of exogenous HA-BNIP3 expressed in MiaPaca2 pancreatic cancer cells that are epigenetically silenced for endogenous BNIP3 (Fig. 6e), indicating that effects of MG132 on BNIP3 protein levels are not mediated indirectly through increased BNIP3 transcription. This evidence concerns the gene BNIP3 and pancreatic neoplasm.