Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in azaserine-treated rats

Development of a model of carcinoma of the pancreas in rats was approached by attempting to identify chemicals that (a) behave as mutagens and (b) localize in the pancreas following systemic administration; and then to study the effects of long-term administration. Azaserine was selected because it behaves as a direct-acting mutagen in two bacterial test systems and because tissue distribution studies showed concentration especially in kidney and pancreas. Groups of rats have been given i.p. injections once or twice weekly for 6 months, and rats have been autopsied after 6 to 18 months. During the first year pancreases developed (a) nodules of atypical exocrine cells which seem to represent hyperplastic foci and (b) encapsulated adenomas. After 1 year most pancreases from treated rats are diffusely abnormal and contain many hyperplastic nodules and adenomas, while more than one-quarter have had pancreatic adenocarcimona. Metastases have been observed in lymph nodes, liver, and lung. No carcinomas or adenomas have been observed in control rats. No other organ shows as high an incidence of involvement as pancreas, but renal neoplasms were frequent. Studies with another chemical O-(N-methyl-N-nitroso-beta-alanyl)-L-serine, are at an earlier stage. The tissue distribution of radioactivity following injection of a 14C-labeled sample is similar to that of azaserine; however, this compound is not a direct-acting bacterial mutagen. Rats treated for 6 months twice weekly i.p. have a higher incidence of nodules of atypical acinar cells than did controls, although the number of nodules per rat is few. No adenomas or carcinomas have been found during 13 months of the study. We conclude that azaserine is a carcinogen in rats and causes major abnormalities of growth and differentiation of the exocrine pancreas, including adenocarcinoma in some rats. O-(N-Methyl-N-mitroso-beta-alanyl)-L-serine had less effect than azaserine on pancreatic growth and differentiation.