Ghrelin Levels in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

The primary outcome measure for this study is plasma ghrelin level, and the two primary comparison are:

• Patients with cachexia versus patients without cachexia
• Patients with cachexia versus healthy controls

Inclusion criteria

• Histological or cytological proof of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• The control are will include healthy age-matched patients without cancer
• The test arm will include patients with pancreatic cancer and they will divided into two groups: those with and without weight loss
• Patients must have recovered from any major infections and/or surgical procedures

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with other serious medical illness like congestive heart failure, thyroid disease,liver disease or renal failure - conditions that will alter their nutritional state
• Patients on appetite stimulant and those receiving total parenteral nutrition
• Patients who have undergone gastrectomy or those who have gastric ulcers
• Patients receiving active chemotherapy
• No prior malignancy except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer or for which patient has been disease free for at least five years.