Characterization of the elastase 1-simian virus 40 T-antigen mouse model of pancreatic carcinoma: effects of sex and diet.

Elastase 1-simian virus transgenic mice, strain Tg(Ela-1, SV40E) Bri18, were studied to characterize the development of pancreatic neoplasms. The incidence of pancreatic carcinomas was compared in groups of male and female mice fed one of three diets chosen because of their effect on the development of pancreatic carcinomas in other animal models. Male mice developed more exocrine carcinomas than female mice and their tumors were larger. Groups fed chow had fewer exocrine carcinomas than groups fed purified diets. The level of fat in the latter diets, 5 versus 20% corn oil, did not alter tumor incidence. An unexpectedly high incidence of islet cell tumors was found in all dietary groups, with a higher incidence in females than in males.