Compositions and methods for detecting cancer

A method of detecting pancreatic cancer in an individual, the method comprising:

• detecting a level of a palladin target nucleic acid in an indicator cell from the individual, wherein the indicator cell is a white blood cell, wherein the palladin target nucleic acid is a palladin mRNA that encodes the 90 kD isoform of palladin encoded by SEQ ID NO:
• 1,
• wherein the detecting comprises contacting a detectably labeled nucleic acid probe selected from SEQ ID NO:
• 49-62 and complements thereof with the indicator cell, and
• wherein detection of a level of a palladin target nucleic acid that is at least about 0.4 log lower than normal levels in the indicator cell indicates the presence in the individual of pancreatic cancer.

A method of treating cancer comprising:

• a) detecting pancreatic cancer in a biological sample, wherein the biological sample comprises blood, wherein detecting the pancreatic cancer in the biological sample comprises detecting a palladin target nucleic acid that is abnormally expressed in a white blood cell in the sample, wherein the detecting comprises contacting white blood cells in the sample with a detectably labeled nucleic acid probe that specifically hybridizes with a palladin target nucleic acid, wherein a detected level of palladin target nucleic acid that is at least about 0.4 log lower than a control level from normal white blood cells of the palladin target nucleic acid indicates that the sample is from an individual with pancreatic cancer, wherein the palladin target nucleic acid is a palladin mRNA that encodes the 90 kD isoform of palladin encoded by SEQ ID NO:
• 1, and wherein the probe is selected from SEQ ID NOs:
• 49-62 and complements thereof;
• and
• b) treating the individual from whom the sample was obtained with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or combinations thereof.