['Escape from anoikis, apoptosis induced by loss of cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions, is important in tumor invasion and metastasis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to play a pivotal role in pancreatic carcinomas. This study aimed to determine the antianoikis effect of HGF in pancreatic carcinoma cells.', 'Antianoikis effect of HGF was evaluated in human pancreatic carcinoma cells in nonadherent culture with or without anti-E-cadherin antibody. Signal pathways were investigated by Western blot analysis and inhibition assay using inhibitors for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and p38.', 'Pancreatic carcinoma cells underwent anoikis in nonadherent culture. However, some of the carcinoma cells survived by forming aggregations in suspension. Anti-E-cadherin antibody dissociated the aggregations, and the separated cells underwent additional anoikis. Hepatocyte growth factor inhibited anoikis irrespective of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway abolished the antianoikis effect of HGF. Phosphorylation of Akt was induced by HGF, and the phosphorylated Akt persisted even when E-cadherin was inhibited.'] Does hepatocyte growth factor inhibit anoikis of pancreatic carcinoma cells through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway?