Mouse Models in Experimental Oncology (Review)
Saulė Uleckienė, Irena Jonauskienė, Danguolė Zabulytė, Janina Didžiapetrienė
Laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) is experimental animal mostly used in biomedical research. Due to sequenced ge i nome large breeding capacity, short gestation period, small size and possibilities to mirror many human diseases the mice have been the model of choice for the studies in genetics, molecular biology, immunology and oncology. Animal models remain essential to understand the fundamental mechanisms underpinning malignancy and to discover improved methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. These in vivo studies are an important step in preclinical studies. The relevance of each particular model depends on how close it replicates the histology, physiological effects, biochemical pathways and metastatic pattern observed in the same human tumour type. The closer we get to this model, the more we will further understand the alterations that drive tumorigenesis, regarding proteins involved in DNA repair, cell cycle, apoptosis and metastasis. Moreover, its availability will allow discovery of novel preventive or therapeutic antitumour agents and resistance to antitumour drugs in vivo. The mai ority of human tumours have metai stases which determine clinical course of the disease, so clinically relevant animal model should be metastatic.
Through the use of modern genetic technologies it has been possible to establish new animal models. This is impori tant studying various aspects of carcinogenesis, response to the treatment. In this review, we will discuss se lection of various mouse tumour models (transplantable, chemically induced, metastatic, genetically engineered, ksenografts, transgenic, ortotopic tumour models), their potential advantages and disadvantages. Some historical highlight in development of tumour models also is presented.
Keywords: mouse models, cancer research.
