Chronic inhaled cocaine abuse may predispose to the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The acute and chronic effects of cocaine over various organ systems have been well documented. A more recent approach to the effects of this drug has focused on the immunological consequences of its exposure, with results that indicate a possible carcinogenic effect.


METHODS
A chart review was made in order to search for young pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients (arbitrarily defined as younger than 40) who made use of inhaled cocaine. This age was chosen because of a higher probability of cocaine addiction than at older ages.


RESULTS
Of the 198 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 13 were younger than 40 years (range 19 to 37) and 5 of these had abused inhaled cocaine for about a decade. One patient had abused marijuana, and there was no information on drug usage in the other 7 patient charts.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this is a very small series, we believe there might be a possibility that chronic cocaine exposure predisposes to the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Further studies are necessary.
Duarte
J G
JG
Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, UFRJ School of Medicine, the Department of Surgery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
do Nascimento
A F
AF
Pantoja
J G
JG
Chaves
C P
CP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine