Inclusion Criteria

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)