Experimental pancreatic cancer model using PGHAM-1 cells: characteristics and experimental therapeutic trials

We developed short-term pancreatic cancer models in hamsters using PGHAM-1 cells and examined the utility of the models for research on metastasis and for therapeutic trials. With 3 PGHAM-1 models, including 1) primary pancreatic cancer and simultaneous liver metastasis by intrapancreatic transplantation, 2) liver metastasis alone by intrasplenic transplantation, 3) peritoneal dissemination by intraperitoneal transplantation, within 21 days after inoculation, we studied the specific characteristics of metastases and the effects of several antiangiogenic substances on primary and metastatic pancreatic tumors. Several experiments showed that vascular endotherial growth factor and anatomical characteristics were important factors for metastasis. In therapeutic experiments, the incidence, size, diameter, microvessel density, and apoptotic index of the tumors were preferably influenced by the antiangiogenic substances. In addition, PGHAM-1-Luc, which is luciferase-positive PGHAM-1 cell line, was newly developed and is expected to be a useful new animal model. These models would be suitable for the study of pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer and its metastasis and for preclinical trials of chemotherapeutic agents, such as antiangiogenic substances.