Establishment of hamster pancreatic ductal carcinoma cell line (PC-1) producing blood group-related antigens.

A pancreatic cancer cell line, PC-1, was established from a pancreatic ductal carcinoma induced in a hamster by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). The cells grew in a monolayer with a doubling time of 38 h, and floated or piled up to form a duct-like structure. Chromosome counts ranged from 42 to 89. Light and electron microscopic studies of PC-1 cells revealed production of conspicuous amounts of amorphous substance. Injection of PC-1 cells into the homologous hamster pancreas resulted in tumor formation, histopathologically indistinguishable from the original primary pancreatic ductal carcinoma. Immunohistochemical expression of blood group-related antigens (BGRAs), A, B, H, Leb, Lex and Ley was observed both in the cells in the culture, and in tumor transplanted into the pancreas. In the culture supernatant, a high titer of blood group A antigen was detected. This cell line may provide a unique tool for studying the mechanism of BGRA synthesis and release in malignant cells.