Building a Better Mouse Model

Mouse models that mimic human cancer of the breast and prostate are being created at Baylor College of Medicine to help scientists better understand how different types of cancers develop and respond to treatment. The effort is part of the National Cancer Institute's new Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium.

"We hope to develop a mouse model that allows us to turn on or turn off a specific gene associated with breast cancer at specific times, such as pre-puberty, post-puberty or during the late stage of the disease," said Dr. Daniel Medina, professor of molecular and cellular biology.

A mouse model of this type would enable Medina to study a normal cell as it evolves into a malignant cell and to analyze how the cell is affected by hormones.

"Many of the traditional mouse models for prostate cancer cannot be used to test strategies for prevention," said Dr. Norman Greenberg, professor of molecular and cellular biology and urology. "Our research involves building genetically engineered mouse models in which the cells are preprogrammed to develop cancer spontaneously. This allows us to test whether drug or gene therapies can prevent tumors from developing."

- Courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/11_01_00-mouse.html