Increased pancreas cancer in a bio-technological research laboratory.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic cancer is extremely rare among people under 55 years old. Its prognosis is poor, and the causal background remains almost unresolved. A previous study observed an increased occurrence of pancreatic cancer in workers in a French biochemical laboratory.


METHODS



METHODS
During an approximate 10 year period in a Danish bio-chemical laboratory with about 50 stable employees, four cases of pancreatic cancer have been diagnosed at a mean age of 53 years. Approximately 0.02 cases should be expected if the laboratory employees had experienced the same rate of pancreatic cancer as that observed in the respective general Danish populations.


RESULTS
All the four cases had a long-term occupational history of exposure to carcinogens during the early bio-technology period.


CONCLUSIONS
Causal conclusions cannot be made yet, but observation of former and present workers in biotechnological laboratories and their cancer occurrence is warranted.
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Johnni
J
Hansen
Medical Centre, Novozymes, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Poul
P
Wagner
Working Environment Department, Novozymes, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anne Sofie
AS
Uhrskov
Medical Centre, Novozymes, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anders Ingemann
AI
Larsen
D001709:Biotechnology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking
D002273:Carcinogens
bio-technology; carcinogens; cluster; laboratory; pancreas cancer