Chronic Alcoholism and Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Abstract

Despite continued and exhaustive clinical and laboratory research, the cause of cancer remains unknown. Chemicals, ionizing radiation, viruses, hormones, and environmental and hereditary factors have been incriminated either alone or in combination in the process of carcinogenesis. Experimental induction of neoplasm by these factors has been achieved in animals. Association between some of these factors and certain spontaneous tumors in man has been suggested by epidemiologic studies; for example, smoking and lung cancer, aniline dye and carcinoma of the bladder, virus and Rous' tumors of rabbits, ionizing radiation and leukemia, environmental factors and Burkitt's tumor, and heredity and cancer of the breast. Carcinoma of the pancreas is a rapidly progressing fatal disease of unknown cause. None of the above mentioned factors has been considered in its genesis. We have noted for many years through clinical experience a high incidence of chronic alcoholism in patients with malignancy of the pancreas. A