Transgenic mice as research tools in neurocarcinogenesis

Abstract

Transgenic animal models for neurocarcinogenesis have provided signi®cant insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenic processes, including those which affect the nervous system. In view of the very rapid pace of acquisition of knowledge, it is not possible to cover all transgenic mouse models for neural tumors. Instead, this article discusses some of the most important technical innovations for manipulation of the mammalian genome (notably the various methods for targeted genome modi®cations, as well as the technology for introducing large DNA fragments into the germ line of mice), and presents a selection of the transgenic mouse models which are proving most promising for furthering our understanding of the pathogenetic basis of cancer in the nervous system.

Humane Endpoints and Cancer Research

“…Transgenic and knockout animal models with a genetically engineered predisposition to develop cancer are being used increasingly in cancer research (Amundadottir et al 1996;Donehower et al 1992;Lipkin 1997;Rovigatti et al 1998;Rosenberg and Bortner 1999). Cancer development is a multistage process, and there is the expectation that transgenic animal models will provide information on the role of specific genes in tumorigenesis and in the development of novel anticancer therapies.…”

A review of astrocytoma models

“…In the nervous system, tumors formed with tissue-specific promoters in transgenic mice include: 1) pineoblastomas (tryptophan hydroxylase promoter); 2) primitive neuroectodermal tumors (tyrosine hydroxylase promoter); 3) oligodendrogliomas (myelin basic promoter and S-100 promoter); 4) neuroblastoma and ganglioneuromas (dopamine-␤-hydroxylase promoter); and 5) gonadotrophic hormone-releasing tumors leutinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone promoter). 53…”

The use of animal models in cancer research

“…of immunologically suppressed, transgenic or knockout rodents. We provide here a small list of recent reviews describing the use of various animal models for cancer research and the functional study of both dominant oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes [22][23][24][25] , the analysis of various aspects of human carcinogenesis [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] , the investigation of various aspects of prevention, etiology and epidemiology of human cancer [34][35][36] , or the pathogenesis of specific forms of human tumors [37][38][39][40] .…”