Relationship between goblet cells and carcinoma of the pancreas during N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine-induced carcinogenesis in Syrian golden hamsters.

During N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in Syrian golden hamsters, both carcinoma and dysplasia could be distinctly classified into two types according to whether they did or did not contain goblet cells. Goblet cell-containing dysplasia developed mainly in the larger duct, and majority of goblet cell-containing carcinomas showed a pattern of papillary adenocarcinoma. It seems most probable that goblet cells are predysplastic and precancerous changes. On the other hand, dysplasia without goblet cells developed mainly in the smaller ductules, and a majority of carcinomas without goblet cells showed a pattern of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. These findings seem to correspond well with the relationship between human pancreatic cancer and mucus-secreting cells. The behavior of the goblet cells of hamster pancreatic ducts might be a good model for that of human mucus-secreting cells, especially mucous cells.