This hypothesis is supported by a previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS) in Japanese individuals, which identified three pancreatic cancer susceptibility loci that were not observed to be associated with risk in prior GWAS studies of individuals of European ancestry.34, 35, 36 A recent GWAS meta‐analysis of three Japanese studies further found a genetic risk marker in GP2 that is also distinct to this population.37 In addition, non‐O blood alleles, which are associated with pancreatic cancer,38 appear to be more prevalent in Japanese individuals compared to Europeans.39 This evidence concerns the gene GP2 and pancreatic neoplasm.