Abstract
We developed short-term pancreatic cancer models in hamsters using PGHAM-1 cells and estimated the utility of the models for research on metastasis and therapeutic trials. Using three PGHAM-1 models; 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 twenty-one days after inoculation, we studied the specific characteristics of metastases and the effect of several anti-angiogenic substances on primary and metastatic pancreatic tumors. Vascular endotherial growth factor and the anatomical character were important factors for metastasis. In the therapeutic experiment, the incidence, size, diameter, microvessel density (MVD), and apoptotic index of the tumors were preferably influenced by the anti-angiogenic substances. In addition, PGHAM-1-Luc, i.e., luciferase-positive PGHAM-1 cells, were newly developed. These models would be suitable not only for studying the pathogenesis and metastasis of pancreatic cancer but also for preclinical trials of chemotherapeutic agents such as anti-angiogenic substances.
