Specifically, pentraxin-3 can discriminate pancreatic cancer from gallstone disease; maspin and pVHL may discriminate pancreatic cancer from mucinous cystic pancreatic neoplasms; THBS2 may differentiate between pancreatic cancer and intraductal papillary mucinous pancreatic neoplasms. This evidence concerns the gene VHL and familial pancreatic carcinoma.