[Establishment and characterization of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line JHP-1 producing carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen].

A new tumor cell line derived from the ascites of a patient with adenocarcinoma of the head of pancreas was established in culture and the nude mouse. The cell line was characterized by the growth with a population doubling time of 22 hr., a high plating efficiency on the plastic surface and a modal chromosome number of 66. The tumorigenicity was proved by the growth in nude mouse and in soft agar. Morphologically the cell line grew as a confluent monolayer with tight adhesion to the plastic surface. Histologically the cell line was epithelial-like in culture and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in nude mouse. Ultrastructurally the cell line showed a characteristic pancreatic epithelium. Furthermore, the cell line expressed carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen. This cell line, designated JHP-1, has been cultured for at least 100 passages in vitro and maintained for more than 2 years. This cell line would be used as a new model for human pancreatic carcinoma.