Effect of secretin on pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster model

Secretin (SEC) given s.c. to hamsters at a dose of 100 clinical units/kg body weight by 6 injections each 30 min apart, inhibited induction of pancreatic cancer when it was given prior to or simultaneously with a single dose of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP), but was ineffective in modifying tumor incidence when it was administered after BOP. The incidence of gall bladder and common bile tumors were not influenced, regardless of the time of SEC injections, implying that the inhibitory effect of this secretagogue is pancreas specific. However, a treatment schedule in which BOP and SEC were given weekly for 20 weeks did not alter the incidence of pancreatic tumors.