Cell differentiation in pancreatic cancer

Cell differentiation in cancer of the exocrine pancreas is currently under intensive study. In this report, new developments are critically reviewed on the use of transplantable pancreatic carcinoma and the hybridoma technique to define cell membrane changes during pancreatic cancer growth. It is concluded that two categories of plasmalemma structure hold promise as differentiation markers specific for pancreatic cancer: (1) membrane receptors for cholinergic and peptide secretagogues and (2) membrane glycoproteins as detected by monoclonal antibodies. Assay of secretagogue receptors and membrane glycoprotein antigens will be central to elucidation of mechanisms of pancreatic carcinoma cell differentiation (? stem cell differentiation or retrodifferentiation) and, hopefully, will provide tumor-specific or tissue-specific markers for the laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatic cancer.