Mouse models of prostate cancer (PCa) are critical for understanding the biology of PCa initiation, progression, and treatment modalities.
Here, we summarize recent advances in PCa mouse models that led to new insights into specific gene functions in PCa. For example, the study of transgenic mice with TMPRSS2/ERG, an androgen regulated fusion protein, revealed its role in developing PCa precursor lesions, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) but not sufficient for PCa development. Double deficiency of Pten and Smad4 leads to a high incidence of metastatic PCa. Targeted deletion of Pten in castration-resistant Nkx3-1-expressing cells (CARNs) results in rapid carcinoma formation after androgen-mediated regeneration, indicating progenitor cells with luminal characteristics can play a role in initiation of PCa. Transgenic mice with activated oncogenes, growth factors, and steroid hormone receptors or inactivated tumor suppressors continue to provide insight for disease progression from initiation to metastasis. Further development of new PCa models with spatial and temporal regulation of candidate gene expression will likely enhance our understanding of the complex events that lead to PCa initiation and progression, thereby invoking novel strategies to combat this common disease in men.
Written by:
Wu X, Gong S, Roy-Burman P, Lee P, Culig Z. Are you the author?
X Wu, Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, United States.
Reference: Endocr Relat Cancer. 2013 Apr 11. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1530/ERC-12-0285
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23580590
UroToday.com Investigative Urology Section
