Identifying mouse models for skin cancer using the Mouse Tumor Biology Database

Abstract

In recent years, the scientific community has generated an ever-increasing amount of data from a growing number of animal models of human cancers. Much of these data come from genetically engineered mouse models. Identifying appropriate models for skin cancer and related relevant genetic data sets from an expanding pool of widely disseminated data can be a daunting task. The Mouse Tumor Biology Database (MTB) provides an electronic archive, search and analysis system that can be used to identify dermatological mouse models of cancer, retrieve model-specific data and analyse these data. In this report, we detail MTB's contents and capabilities, together with instructions on how to use MTB to search for skin-related tumor models and associated data.

Keywords: animal model; database; images; mouse; pathology; skin cancer; tumor.

Figure 1

Example of a search for metastatic melanoma involving Nras in skin melanocytes. This illustrates the ability of the “Advanced Search Form” to design very detailed queries.

Figure 2

Example of a Search for PDX Data. The “Patient Derived Xenograft Search Form” is displayed with “Skin” selected as “Primary Tumor Site”. The inset shows the results of this search.