Transgenic models of breast cancer metastasis.

Abstract

Traditionally it has been difficult to genetically define the events that lead to the formation of metastatic mammary tumors. While a number of gene products have been implicated in the development of mammary carcinomas, few have been demonstrated to play causative roles in mammary tumor formation. With the advent of transgenic mouse technology, the basic researcher can now target the expression of a gene product to a particular tissue. This has provided scientists with the ability to create mouse models of human diseases. Of particular interest is the generation of transgenic mice carrying genes thought to play important roles in the initiation/progression of mammary carcinomas. From these model systems have emerged murine tumors that not only mimic human pathologies but have the propensity to metastasize to the lung, mirroring one of the major sites of human metastases. Here we review transgenic models of mammary tumorigenesis, with particular emphasis on those that develop metastatic mammary carcinomas.