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Review
. 2022 Sep:132:106012.
doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.106012. Epub 2022 Jul 9.

The mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) model: A 10-year retrospective on model development and head and neck cancer investigations

Michihisa Kono  1 , Shin Saito  2 , Ann Marie Egloff  3 , Clint T Allen  4 , Ravindra Uppaluri  5
Affiliations
Review

The mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) model: A 10-year retrospective on model development and head and neck cancer investigations

Michihisa Kono et al. Oral Oncol. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Preclinical models of cancer have long been paramount to understanding tumor development and advancing the treatment of cancer. Creating preclinical models that mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of human tumors is a key challenge in the advancement of cancer therapy. About ten years ago, we created the mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) cell line models that were derived from 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse oral squamous cell cancers. This model has been used in numerous investigations, including studies on tumor biology and therapeutics. We have seen remarkable progress in cancer immunology in recent years, and these cell lines, which are syngeneic to C57BL/6 background, have also been used to study the anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we aim to review the MOC model from its development and characterization to its use in non-immunological and immunological preclinical head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) studies. Integrating and refining these MOC model studies and extending findings to other systems will provide crucial insights for translational approaches aimed at improving head and neck cancer treatment.

Keywords: Carcinogen-induced cancer; Immunocompetent mouse models; Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement

RU serves on a Merck head and neck cancer advisory board. The MOC models developed by RU have been filed with the Washington University Office of Technology Management and are licensed for distribution by Kerafast. All other authors have no conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Development of MOC cells. Using 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA), MOC1 was generated from a mucosal lip lesion (left; original image), MOC2 from a floor of mouth mass (middle; original image), and MOC22 from a buccal lesion (right; representative image).
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Graphical Abstract of MOC model studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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