Therefore, the minoxidil-induced upregulation of the KATP channels composed of the Kir6.1/2-Sur2A/B subunits can be associated with high cancer risk in some common cancer including breast cancer in humans but not pancreatic cancer in line with the lack of expression of these subunits in pancreatic beta cells. The gene discussed is KCNJ8; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.