Structural analysis of a new highly metastatic cell line PaTu 8902 from a primary human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The new cell line PaTu 8902 was established from a human pancreatic grade II adenocarcinoma of ductal origin. In early passages, cultured cells showed a high degree of heterogeneity in terms of their morphology and the number of chromosomes per cell. When transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice, these cells grew as tumors with a similar morphology and differentiation (grade II) to the primary tumor. In contrast, after prolonged cultivation, cells were more homogenous in terms of their morphology and number of chromosomes per cell, and the corresponding nude mouse xenografts were less differentiated (grade III). When cells from late passages were injected intravenously into nude mice, lung metastases occurred after 3-4 weeks. In addition, tumor cells were found in the wall of the esophagus and in the pleural cavity, indicating a high metastatic potential for PaTu 8902 cells in nude mice.