DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Patients must meet 1 of the following criteria:

  • Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

    • Resectable stage I-IIA disease or stage IIB or higher disease

      • Must have undergone complete surgical resection of the tumor with curative intent
    • Pancreatic mass (solid) that is less than 4 cm as determined by any conventional imaging (MRI, EUS, or CT scan)
    • No evidence of extension of the mass beyond the pancreas including vascular invasion or invasion into surrounding organs, with the exception of the bile duct
    • No imaging evidence of metastatic disease or lymphadenopathy (lymph nodes greater than 1 cm and/or appearance suspicious for an advanced lesion by imaging criteria)
  • Has a family history of pancreatic cancer and is considered to be an at-risk individual for the disease (i.e., member of a family with 2 or more individuals with pancreatic cancer)

• Control participants must meet 1 of the following criteria:

  • Chronic pancreatitis OR history of exocrine insufficiency meeting the following criteria:

    • At least 2 of the following criteria are met (unless patient has a history of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in which case only 1 criterion must be met):

      • Abdominal ultrasound that is consistent with chronic pancreatitis by standard radiological criteria (i.e., echogenic foci in the parenchyma, large or small cavities, calcifications, or dilated pancreatic duct)
      • Abdominal CT scan consistent with chronic pancreatitis by standard radiological criteria (i.e., calcifications, dilated pancreatic duct, irregular contour of the gland, or cystic lesions)
      • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography exam consistent with chronic pancreatitis by standard radiological criteria (i.e., dilated tortuous main pancreatic duct with irregular secondary branches or intraductal calculi)
      • Endoscopic ultrasound consistent with chronic pancreatitis by standard radiological criteria (i.e., echogenic foci, focal regions of decreased echogenicity, or pancreatic ductal changes)
      • Pancreatic calcifications identified on plain film of the abdomen
    • Must have an imaging study of the pancreas within 3 months of study enrollment that does not suggest a pancreatic mass
    • Stable clinical history over the past year with no suspicion for cancer due to weight loss, jaundice, or change in abdominal symptoms
    • No family history of pancreatic cancer

  • Acute biliary obstruction (stones) including jaundice of benign etiology meeting the following criteria:

    • Elevation of serum bilirubin level greater than 2.0 mg/dL
    • Dilated extrahepatic biliary systems demonstrated on US, MRI, or CT scan
    • Blood sample available within 72 hours of admission and prior to any corrective intervention
    • Biliary obstruction must be of benign etiology such as common bile duct stone or benign biliary stricture
    • Must have complete imaging study performed of the pancreas that does not suggest a pancreatic cancer (i.e., discrete mass lesion)
    • No family history of pancreatic cancer

  • Healthy control meeting the following criteria:

    • Age, race, and sex-matched to qualified pancreatic cancer cases
    • No family history of pancreatic cancer
    • No personal history of acute pancreatitis or biliary obstruction (stones) including jaundice of benign etiology
    • No concurrent abdominal pain
    • No concurrent unexplained weight loss

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• No prior malignancy, except nonmelanoma skin cancer, for 10 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior preoperative chemoradiotherapy (neoadjuvant)