Genomic DNA Copy Number Alterations in Mouse Cancer Models and Human Cancer

Abstract

The development of solid tumors is associated with the acquisition of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Although these changes may be brought about at the genomic level in a variety of ways, genomic DNA copy number aberrations are particularly frequent in solid tumors and are expected to contribute to tumor evolution by copy number induced alterations in gene expression. Mouse cancer models recapitulate genomic alterations observed in human tumors to varying degrees. Comparison of aberrations in tumor genomes in mouse models and human cancer has facilitated the identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, as well as polymorphic variants contributing to individual cancer susceptibility.