Differentiation features of human pancreatic tumor cells maintained in nude mice and in culture: immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies.

A poorly differentiated human pancreatic adenocarcinoma was maintained in nude mice for more than 3 years. When tumor fragments from xenografts were cultivated in suspension, some became adherent, allowing cell culture. Cytochemical, immunocytological and ultrastructural methods were used to study cell differentiation in both solid tumors and cultures. Pancreatic differentiation features such as cell polarization, production of secretory granules, and M1 and M3 mucus-associated antigens were maintained in the tumor cells, in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, in long-term cell cultures, cells were able to organize themselves spontaneously into duct-like structures. Other differentiation features such as production of pancreatic enzymes and hormones were not expressed. However, differentiation patterns such as an intestinal-like brush border and the presence of the M3 antigen associated with intestinal mucus were observed in both xenografts and cultures. This study shows the possible differentiation patterns which can be expressed by the hypothetical tumor pancreatic stem cell in nude mice as well as in culture.