Experimental Tumour Models in Mice

Abstract

The complex multistage processes of tumour initiation, progression and metastasis challenge the methods that are used in basic cancer biology research and anticancer drug development. Experimental tumour modelling in mice provides means for observing tumour development, identifying target molecules and pathways and designing and testing novel strategies for diagnosing and treating cancer in a manner that is not possible in in vitro systems or in human patients. To gain maximal benefit from the use of mouse tumour models one should be aware of the possibilities and limitations of each approach, and pay careful attention to selection of the model and planning of the experiments. We aim in this review to give the reader some basic information on experimental mouse tumour models that have evolved from simple chemical treatments to extremely complex genetic models, and to discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We discuss some species-specific differences between mice and humans, and also between the inbred mouse strains, that can affect the various processes of tumorigenesis. Finally, we try with a few examples of cancer studies involving the p53 and retinoblastoma tumour suppressors, and the extracellular matrix protein collagen XVIII and its antiangiogenic endostatin fragment to illustrate the importance of evaluating data from various tumour models in order to achieve a proper understanding of the function of a given molecule or pathway in tumour development.