Trial Information

Differential Diagnosis Between Pancreatic Cancer and Chronic Pancreatitis: Value of the Detection of Urinary Cadmium

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Obtain urine samples and questionnaire data on cadmium exposure in patients with
chronic pancreatitis.

- Analyze these data to determine risk of pancreatic cancer using urine cadmium levels.

Secondary

- Analyze these data in conjunction with data on serum CA 19-9, to determine whether
urinary cadmium has clinical utility in predicting pancreatic cancer.

- Determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for
the cadmium test alone, CA 19-9 alone, and both tests together.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot study.

Patients complete a questionnaire over approximately 20 minutes on lifetime exposure to
cadmium, including dietary, occupational, and recreational exposure, smoking history, and
residence. Patients also provide a urine sample that is analyzed by atomic absorption
spectrophotometry. Serum CA 19-9 levels are obtained from medical record if available.