Mouse models of prostate cancer

Abstract

The development and optimization of high-throughput screening methods has identified a multitude of genetic changes associated with human disease. The use of immunodeficient and genetically engineered mouse models that mimic the human disease has been crucial in validating the importance of these genetic pathways in prostate cancer. These models provide a platform for finding novel therapies to treat human patients afflicted with prostate cancer as well as those who have debilitating bone metastases. In this paper, we focus on the historical development and phenotypic descriptions of mouse models used to study prostate cancer. We also comment on how closely each model recapitulates human prostate cancer.

Figure 1

Schematic illustration of the anatomy of the human prostate (a) and mouse prostate (b) (adapted from McNeal [42] and Cunha et al. [43], resp.). Used with permission: Abate-Shen and Shen [2].

Figure 2

Stages of prostate cancer. The goal of genetically engineered mouse models is to accurately mimic all of these stages of human disease in the mouse.

Figure 3

Schematic diagram of the cross-breeding of immunodeficient mice. Note: “-” or “↓“ could refer to absence or reduction in number of cells or in activity.

Figure 4

Schematic diagram of the Cre-loxP system.