Zebrafish as a cancer model system

Abstract

The zebrafish, with its combination of forward genetics and vertebrate biology, has great potential as a cancer model system.

Catch of the day: zebrafish as a human cancer model

“…Water-soluble carcinogens can be added directly to the fish water and a number of chemical compounds that are carcinogenic in mammals induce tumor formation in zebrafish (Amatruda et al, 2002;Berghmans et al, 2005a;Goessling et al, 2007a, b). Exposure to dimethylbenzanthracene, ethylnitrosourea, N-methyl-N-nitro-Nnitrosoguanidine, diethylnitrosamine results in a variety of tumors in zebrafish or medaka (Oryzias latipes) (Okihiro and Hinton, 1999;Beckwith et al, 2000;Spitsbergen et al, 2000a, b;Mizgireuv et al, 2004;Lam and Gong, 2006;Mizgireuv and Revskoy, 2006).…”

“…While it has been known for more than a century that teleost fish can develop tumors spontaneously or in response to various chemical carcinogens, it has not been until recently that this small creature has received so much attention by cancer researchers (Amatruda et al, 2002;Smolowitz et al, 2002;Stern and Zon, 2003;Berghmans et al, 2005a;Goessling et al, 2007a). This is largely due to the development of fish lines harboring oncogenic transgenes and their amenability to genetic and pharmacological testing.…”

“…This is largely due to the development of fish lines harboring oncogenic transgenes and their amenability to genetic and pharmacological testing. Cancer progression in these animals recapitulates many aspects of human disease and opens the door for studies to identify genetic and chemical modifiers of cancer (Amatruda et al, 2002;Smolowitz et al, 2002;Stern and Zon, 2003;Berghmans et al, 2005a;Goessling et al, 2007a;Kari et al, 2007). The attention has been further fueled by the development of xenograft models that allow the propagation and visualization of human cancer cells engrafted in optically transparent zebrafish (Haldi et al, 2005;Lee et al, 2005;Topczewska et al, 2006;Nicoli et al, 2007;Stoletov et al, 2007).…”

“…Finally, zebrafish have many attributes that cancer researchers find attractive. Compared to mice, zebrafish require minimal care and are cost effective to maintain in the laboratory (Amatruda et al, 2002;Smolowitz et al, 2002;Stern and Zon, 2003;Berghmans et al, 2005a;Goessling et al, 2007a;Kari et al, 2007). A pair of adult fish produces several hundred fertilized eggs a week.…”

“…A complete sequence of the zebrafish genome is available and many human cancer genes are conserved structurally and functionally in zebrafish (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/guide/zebrafish). Zebrafish genetics is easily manipulated with numerous mutant or tissue-specific transgenic fish lines available (Amatruda et al, 2002;Smolowitz et al, 2002;Stern and Zon, 2003;Berghmans et al, 2005a;Beis and Stainier, 2006;Goessling et al, 2007a;Kari et al, 2007). Zebrafish can also efficiently absorb small molecular weight compounds directly from water which makes this organism especially appealing for screening anticancer agents (Parng et al, 2002;Kari et al, 2007).…”