Experimental pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer induced in hamsters offers a unique model for studying important aspects of the disease. Studies of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis show that carcinogens require specific molecular structures for pancreatotrophic action. The neoplastic effects of these carcinogens is humoral, rather than operating through the bile reflux mechanism. Moreover, islet cells seem to play a direct or indirect role in cancer induction. Experiments concerning tumor histogenesis show that ductal/ductular cells are the progenitor cells of induced tumors. The proliferation of endocrine cells during the early stages of cancer development seems to be associated with a functional abnormality of the endocrine pancreas. Hormone secretions are altered in the serum and pancreatic juice. Furthermore, production of blood group-related antigens, particularly of A antigen, is characteristic for early cancer development and represents a tumor-specific antigen. Encouraging results have been obtained for the use of an anti-A antibody in early detection and therapy of this experimentally induced pancreatic cancer.