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Objective To investigate the structural changes in specific serum N - glycans in pancreatic cancer patients and to identify the specific serum maker of pancreatic cancer. Methods The pancreatic cancer patients who visited the Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from June 2011 to December 2013 were assigned to preoperative serum group (123 cases) and postoperative serum group (78 cases) ; healthy controls whose serum samples were collected in the Physical Examination Center were selected as control serum group (271 cases). DNA sequencer - aided fluorophore - assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (DSA - FACE) was used to analyze serum N - glycans and compare them between the three groups. Results The serum N - glycan profiles in pancreatic cancer patients were identified by DSA - FACE. The results indicated that N - glycan peak 8 in preoperative serum group was significantly lower than those in control serum group (t -2.735, P < 0.05) and postoperative serum group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between the postoperative serum group and control serum group. Conclusion N - glycan peak 8 can be considered as a serum marker of pancreatic cancer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]