TITLE:
The MMTV-PyVT Transgenic Mouse as a Multistage Model for Mammary Carcinoma and the Efficacy of Antineoplastic Treatment
AUTHORS:
Stephanie Shishido, Adélaïde Delahaye, Amanda Beck, Thu Annelise Nguyen
KEYWORDS:
ER; PR; p53; Ki67; MMTV-PyVT; Survivin; Tamoxifen
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.4 No.7,
August
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Animal models are commonly used to analyze the mechanism of carcinogenesis as well as the development and screening of potent drugs. Although numerous animal models of breast cancer have been used in research, few display multiple stages of tumorigenesis. The transgenic strain FVB/N-Tg(MMTV-PyVT) 634 Mul/J (also known as PyVT) was established to determine the effect of mammary gland-specific expression of the polyomavirus middle T antigen. Here the PyVT model with three distinct stages of tumor development (Pre, Early, and Late stages) was used as a model system for measuring tumor growth, tumor burden, and metastasis of mammary carcinomas. Additionally the expression profile of the molecular markers, survivin and Ki-67, was determined. Three antineoplastic compounds were tested over a 14-day period to determine their efficacy at attenuating tumor growth at each stage of development. Interestingly cisplatin and paclitaxel were determined to be ineffective anticancer drugs, while tamoxifen significantly reduced tumor growth in the Pre and Early stages of tumor formation.