Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inducible early gene 1 (TIEG1) is 
known to induce apoptosis in TGF-beta sensitive pancreatic cancer cells, yet its 
effect on TGF-beta resistant cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, TIEG1 
was found to induce apoptosis in TGF-beta resistant cancer cells and 
concurrently enhanced gemcitabine chemosensitivity. Down-regulation of stathmin 
was noted to associate with TIEG1 expression, whilst ectopic overexpression of 
stathmin prevented TIEG1 mediated growth inhibition of tumor cells. Small 
interfering RNAs targeting stathmin inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth. 
These suggest that stathmin is a downstream target of TIEG1.