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Pancreatic cancer in rats and hamsters does not induce IAPP‐related hyperglycaemia
Author(s) -
Oosterwijk Cor,
van Hulst Karen L.,
Visser Corjan J.T.,
Woutersen Ruud A.,
Lips Cees J.M.,
van den Tweel Jan G.,
Höppener Jo W.M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19970807)72:4<637::aid-ijc15>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - azaserine , medicine , endocrinology , pancreatic cancer , insulin , hamster , glucose homeostasis , impaired glucose tolerance , diabetes mellitus , homeostasis , pancreas , insulin resistance , cancer , biology , glutamine , biochemistry , amino acid
Many patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer develop diabetes mellitus due to insulin resistance. This may relate to concurrent over‐production of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) by the pancreatic beta cells. We investigated the effects of pancreatic cancer on circulating IAPP and glucose homeostasis in azaserine‐treated rats (developing acinar pancreatic tumours) and BOP‐treated hamsters (developing ductular pancreatic tumours). Glucose, insulin and IAPP levels in plasma were neither affected in azaserine‐only treated rats nor in animals with enhanced carcinogenesis after chronic caerulein treatment. Azaserine‐treated rats on a high‐fat diet had decreased insulin levels and enhanced IAPP/insulin ratios in plasma, without hyperglycaemia. All BOP‐treated hamsters showed pancreatic carcinogenesis at 6 months post‐treatment. Supranormal plasma glucose levels in animals on a low‐fat diet were the only change observed. After a second 6‐month period, subnormal plasma glucose levels, at least 4‐fold decreased plasma insulin and up to 2‐fold decreased plasma IAPP levels were present in all hamsters. Remarkably, both in azaserine‐treated rats on high‐fat and in BOP‐treated hamsters, decreased insulin levels and elevated IAPP/insulin ratios are not associated with hyperglycaemia. In contrast to humans with pancreatic cancer, IAPP over‐production and hyperglycaemia do not develop in rats and hamsters with (pre‐)neoplastic pancreatic lesions. Int. J. Cancer 72:637–641, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.