Establishment of a new human pancreatic cancer cell line, NOR-P1, with high angiogenic activity and metastatic potential

Cancer Lett. 2000 Jul 31;155(2):153-61. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(00)00421-3.

Abstract

We present here a new cell line, NOR-P1, established from a metastatic subcutaneous tumor of a patient with pancreatic cancer. The cells show rapid growth in culture with a doubling time of 16 h and high migration activity. Genetic and molecular analyses revealed high telomerase activity and a mutation in the K-ras oncogene. Of particular interest, the cells express markedly elevated mRNA levels of angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, as well as other tumor growth-related factors. Subcutaneous transplantation of the NOR-P1 cells into nude mice formed solid, hemorrhagic tumors which were histologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma with dense blood vessels and severe extravasation of blood. Furthermore, when NOR-P1 cell suspension was injected directly into the pancreas of nude mice, the cells grew rapidly to form intra-pancreatic tumors associated with liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination that resulted in cachexia and subsequent death. These properties suggest that NOR-P1 is an aggressive pancreatic cancer cell line with a high metastatic potential and may serve as a useful experimental model for studying tumor angiogenesis and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cachexia
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Movement
  • Genes, ras / genetics
  • Growth Substances / biosynthesis
  • Growth Substances / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Telomerase / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured*

Substances

  • Growth Substances
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Telomerase