Experimental study of transductal dissemination of cancer of the pancreas.

Experimental studies on the mechanims of transductal dissemination of the pancreas carcinoma was made in rabbit by injection of VX2 carcinoma suspension into the pancreatic duct. Ductal occlusion was conductive to nidation and growth in the pancreas of intraductal floating cancer cells, but tumor growth also occured in 40% of animals in which the duct was not occluded. The mechanisms of nidation in the pancreas of intraductal floating cancer cells were direct embedding into the ductal wall, and leakage of cancer cells from the duct in the process of pancreatic fibrosis due to ductal obstruction. Expansive tumor growth in the pancreas was more vigorous the smaller the degree of fibrosis of the pancreas, and was most active where associated acute pancreatitis was seen or where the pancreas was X-irradiated one week before injection of carcinoma suspension.