PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Service for Pancreas Cancer

The PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc orthotopic mouse model for pancreas cancer re-establishes the most widely cited human PDAC cell line inside the pancreatic parenchyma, where its classic KRAS–TP53–CDKN2A genotype and aggressive invasive phenotype can be studied in true organ context. Alfa Cytology delivers this benchmark model as a comprehensive preclinical service — covering authenticated cell supply, surgical orthotopic implantation, serial luciferase imaging, randomized treatment arms, and thorough endpoint pathology — providing your program with in vivo evidence anchored in one of oncology’s most trusted cell systems.

Overview of PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model for Pancreas Cancer

PANC-1 holds the distinction of being one of the oldest and most heavily utilized human pancreatic cancer cell lines in the world. Established in 1972 by Lieber and colleagues from the ductal epithelium of a tumor in the head of the pancreas of a 56-year-old Caucasian male, it was reported in 1975 with a doubling time of 52 hours and a modal chromosome number of 63, including three distinct marker chromosomes and a small ring chromosome. Its genetics mirror the canonical human PDAC landscape almost textbook-perfectly: an activating KRAS G12D mutation, a TP53 R273H missense mutation, and homozygous deletion of CDKN2A (p16), while SMAD4 remains functionally intact. From the outset, the line proved malignant by the standards of its era — growing readily in soft agar, inhibited by L-asparaginase, and forming progressively growing anaplastic carcinomas in nude mice.

Fig 1. Luciferase-transfected PANC-1 cells (PANC-1/Luc⁺) were injected into the pancreatic tail of BALB/c nude mice to establish an orthotopic model. (Lee, Woonghee, et al., 2021)

What makes PANC-1 a perennial favorite in orthotopic pancreas cancer research is the combination of this classic genotype with a strongly invasive, plastic phenotype: the cells readily form tumor spheroids, undergo partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and interact with stromal components such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, making the line a staple of desmoplasia and drug-penetration studies. Surgically implanted into the pancreatic parenchyma of immunodeficient mice, PANC-1 establishes locally invasive tumors that progress with peritoneal and distant dissemination in advanced formats. The luciferase-expressing variant, PANC-1-luc, layers quantitative whole-body imaging onto this biology: after D-luciferin administration, tumor establishment, growth kinetics, and treatment response can be measured serially in each animal, transforming a landmark cell line into a modern, data-rich preclinical tool.

Cell Line Information: PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc

Key documented attributes of the PANC-1 parental line and its luciferase-tagged counterpart, PANC-1-luc, are compiled below from cell bank records and the primary characterization literature.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology handles the PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc orthotopic program as a single accountable engagement — authenticated cells, precise surgical implantation, disciplined imaging schedules, dosing execution, and integrated histopathology — so your team receives a cohesive preclinical dataset built on a cell line the field already knows and trusts.

Workflow of PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Construction

Assembling an orthotopic PANC-1 study is an exercise in consistency: the cell line’s reliability must be matched by surgical precision and imaging discipline at every stage. The workflow below reflects the platform as standardized, with strain selection, inoculum size, and schedules tailored to each program.

1. Cell Line Expansion and Pre-Study Quality Control: PANC-1 or PANC-1-luc cultures are expanded under defined conditions and released only after STR profiling confirms identity against the reference profile, mycoplasma PCR testing returns negative, and — for the reporter line — in vitro luciferase expression is confirmed.
2. Host Animal Preparation: Female nude or NSG mice, typically 6–8 weeks of age, are received, health-screened, and acclimatized for a minimum of seven days with daily clinical observation before any surgical procedure.
3. Surgical Orthotopic Implantation: Under aseptic microsurgical technique, the pancreas is exteriorized through a small left-flank abdominal incision, and 1 × 10⁶ PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc cells suspended in 25–50 µL PBS or Matrigel/PBS are injected into the pancreatic parenchyma or tail, after which the abdominal wall and skin are closed in layers.
4. Post-Operative Recovery and Engraftment Verification: Mice recover under warming with analgesia per approved protocols, and early bioluminescence imaging following D-luciferin injection — supported where useful by high-resolution ultrasound — verifies engraftment while tumors remain below palpable size.
5. Baseline Measurement and Cohort Randomization: Baseline photon flux is recorded and used to balance animals across control and treatment arms, ensuring comparable starting tumor burdens before dosing begins.
6. Scheduled Longitudinal Monitoring: Bioluminescence imaging is performed on a regular schedule (typically weekly) with locked acquisition parameters, alongside body weight, abdominal girth, and clinical health scoring, capturing treatment-induced changes in growth kinetics and onset of dissemination.
7. Test Article Administration: Compounds are dosed according to the sponsor-approved regimen — intraperitoneal, intravenous, or oral routes supported — with the model’s desmoplastic character making it particularly informative for stroma-penetrating agents and combination schedules.
8. Terminal Necropsy and Integrated Analysis: At endpoint, primary pancreatic tumors are excised and weighed, abdominal organs are inspected with metastatic deposits mapped and counted, and tissues are processed for H&E and immunohistochemical staining; the final report weaves imaging curves, tumor metrics, and pathology into a single interpretive package.

Fig 2. PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc orthotopic mouse model construction workflow.

Case Study-PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Development

Alfa Cytology has run the PANC-1 / PANC-1-luc orthotopic model in preclinical programs addressing chemotherapy evaluation, stromal-targeting strategies, and pathway-specific inhibitors. In such studies, luciferase-tagged tumors implanted into the pancreas of immunodeficient mice were followed by serial imaging across randomized arms, with results consolidated into reports combining longitudinal imaging, tumor metrics, dissemination mapping, and histological confirmation. Because client data remain confidential, detailed findings are shared only under appropriate agreements — contact us to request an anonymized case summary or to scope a configuration suited to your candidate.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

PANC-1’s half-century pedigree sets a high bar: any orthotopic study built on it must be executed with equal rigor. Alfa Cytology meets that standard with disciplined cell qualification, proven surgical technique, and reporting that connects imaging, pathology, and interpretation in one coherent preclinical package.

• Reference-profile STR authentication and mycoplasma clearance on every cell batch, protecting the lineage integrity of this classic line.
• High-consistency microsurgical implantation into the pancreatic parenchyma of nude and NSG mice.
• Calibrated, settings-locked bioluminescence protocols delivering internally comparable longitudinal data across groups and time points.
• Model flexibility supporting stromal co-injection, spheroid-derived implantation, and combination regimens where study designs demand it.
• Terminal packages integrating tumor weights, dissemination maps, and H&E/IHC histopathology into a single deliverable.
• Strictly preclinical scope, confidentiality-first handling, milestone-based updates, and a dedicated study scientist as your point of contact.

Contact Us

Few models carry the pedigree of PANC-1 — and fewer still are executed with the care this orthotopic platform deserves. If that combination sounds right for your pancreas cancer program, Alfa Cytology would be glad to help you design the study. Reach out to us for feasibility input and a tailored quotation, or contact us today to schedule a technical consultation with our modeling team.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.