OBJECTIVES: Detection of telomerase activity in pancreatic juice samples by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) has been shown to be a useful diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer. However, some investigations suggested that the activity was not specific to pancreatic juice from pancreatic cancer. In the present study using an in situ TRAP assay, we investigated the specificity of telomerase activity in pancreatic juice for pancreatic cancer.

Epidemiologic studies have shown the health risks of exposure to cigarette smoke and air pollution, with heavy metal composition implicated as contributing to both. Environmental exposure to cigarette smoke has been epidemiologically associated with pancreatic cancer, but the pathophysiologic basis for this is not yet clear.