Protein secretions in hamsters with pancreatic carcinoma.

Pancreatic secretions from the hamster model for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were analyzed to determine whether alterations had occurred in the protein composition. CCK-and secretin-stimulated secretions were collected from 13 animals with cancer and 16 normal controls. Subsequent separation of the proteins by isoelectric focusing showed the following: (1) Significant changes occurred in the protein composition from animals with carcinoma. An unusually dark band was present at pH 7.5 just below amylase (pH 7.65); two unidentified bands, present in the normals at pH 6.9 and 7.0, were missing; and marked decreases occurred in the cathodic proteins with isoelectric points above pH 9, (2) CCK provided the optimal stimulus for differentiating specimens from animals with carcinoma from the normal controls. (3) The protein concentrations of CCK-stimulated secretions of animals with carcinoma were significantly lower than the controls. We have concluded that the protein alterations which have occurred in the hamster model for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma warrant further investigation.