Experimental induction of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in rats. J Natl Cancer Inst

SUMMARY-Adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were experi-mentally induced in rats after the implantation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Rats were anesthetized with Nembutal, the pancreas was exposed, and a 2- to 3-mm incision was made in the "head " of the pancreas approxi-mately 1 cm from the duodenum. Crystalline DMBA (2-3 mg) was implanted and the incision was closed with silk suture. Eight % of animals developed tumors in the pancreas from 119 to 363 days after implantation (mean, 194 days). Ten an-imals developed tumors in less than 180 days. The adenocar-cinomas were invasive, metastasized, and had pronounced ductal cell characteristics. The light-microscopic morphology of these pancreatic tumors was presented.-J Natl Cancer Inst 55: 857-864, 1975. Epidemiologic surveys indicate an increase durin