During tumourigenesis, elevated PTX3 levels have been detected in various cancers, including liposarcoma, glioma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic carcinoma, prostate carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, and are correlated with the grade of malignancy and a poor prognosis.32, 33, 34, 44, 45, 46, 47. This evidence concerns the gene PTX3 and exocrine pancreatic carcinoma.