Transplantation of azaserine-induced carcinomas of pancreas in rats

Two pancreatic adenocarcinomas which had been induced in Wistar/Lewis rats by azaserine treatment were transplanted into rats of the same strain by subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection of minced tumor. Subsequently, we have serially transplanted into non-radiated recipients. Transplanted tumors have maintained evidence of acinar cell differentiation including the presence of zymogen granules in tumors studied by electron microscopy, and of lipase, amylase and trypsin activity in the supernatant of tumor homogenates. Histologically, the tumors vary from poorly differentiated solid carcinomas to well differentiated variants which form acini. Transplanted tumors are locally invasive and have metastasized to lung and liver in some recipients.