Objective To identify genetic abnormalities in primary pancreatic carcinoma in humans.Methods Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to investigate genomic imbalances in 27 cases of pancreatic carcinomas. Multiple deletions and gains were observed in all tumor specimens.Results Losses affecting chromosomes 9p,17p,4q and 6p and gains involving 8q,7q,3q and 1q were commonly observed.Conclusions There are multiple regions of chromosomes with changes copy number in pancreatic carcinoma. The altered chromosomal regions may contain several candidate genes which are involved in the development and progress of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Objective To identify genetic abnormalities in primary pancreatic carcinoma in humans. Methods Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to investigate genomic imbalances in 27 cases of pancreatic carcinomas. Multiple deletions and gains were observed in all tumor specimens. Results Losses affecting chromosomes 9p, 17p , 4q and 6p and gains involving 8q, 7q, 3q and 1q were frequently observed. Conclusions There are multiple regions of chromosomes with changes copy number in pancreatic carcinoma. The altered chromosomal regions may contain several candidate genes which are involved in the development and progress of pancreatic carcinogenesis.