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.