Gene Expression Profiles in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Gene Expression Profiles in Primary and Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that may occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study uses gene expression profiling to compare primary tumor cells with metastatic tumor cells in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer cells from the primary and metastatic sites in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
• Characterize the function of the differentially upregulated and downregulated genes identified by comparing the gene expression profiles of primary and metastatic cells in these patients.

OUTLINE: Fresh biopsy samples are collected for gene expression profiling and other biomarker/laboratory analyses.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 10 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma of exocrine origin
• Metastatic disease
• Fresh biopsy material available from primary site of disease and a metastatic focus, including liver, peritoneum, or lymph node

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer