Address of Corresponding Author

Pancreatology 2005;5:410-415 (DOI: 10.1159/000086542)

  Key Words

• Hepatocytes
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Pancreas
• Islet

  Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular differentiation of pancreatic cells has been observed under certain conditions in several species, including humans. Their cell of origin and biology has remained controversial. Generally, these lesions have been considered a degenerative process. The present study describes a neoplastic hepatocellular lesion in Syrian hamsters. Methods and Results: Syrian hamsters were treated with a high dose of pancreatic carcinogen, N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine. The lesion was confined within a single islet and expressed albumin and HSA (hepatocyte-specific antigen). The pleomorphic tumor cells exhibited numerous mitotic figures and were intermingled with insulin and glucagon cells. The hamster had multicentric premalignant and malignant ductal-type lesions, most of which appeared to arise from within the islets. This is the first demonstration of pancreatic hepatoma. Conclusion: Pancreatic islet cells appear to have the potential to transdifferentiate into neoplastic hepatocytes.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP

  Author Contacts

Parviz M. Pour
The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6805 (USA)
Tel. +1 402 559 4495, Fax +1 402 559 4651, E-Mail ppour@unmc.edu

  Article Information

Received: June 15, 2004
Accepted after revision: December 2, 2004
Published online: June 28, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 21