Elevated activity of pancreatic type amylase in the urine as an early indicator of pancreatic tumors in hamsters.

Levels of amylase isozymes in the urine and serum of Syrian hamsters during pancreatic carcinogenesis, induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP), were investigated. BOP was injected subcutaneously (sc) into female Syrian golden hamsters at a dose of 10mg/kg once weekly for 6 wk and amylase activities in urine and serum samples were measured every other week from the first treatment of BOP. Although total amylase in the urine showed no remarkable changes, the pancreatic type isozyme demonstrated only very low levels for the first 6 wk and then from wk 8, became elevated showing continuously high levels in all animals thereafter. Animals were sacrificed at wk 10, 14, and 18. Dysplastic lesions of the pancreas developed in all the hamsters investigated. Furthermore, pancreatic adenocarcinomas were also observed in all animals sacrificed at wk 18. Thus, the results suggest that measurement of pancreatic isoamylase in the urine might allow early indication of pancreatic tumor development in hamsters.