A novel pancreatic cancer model originated from transformation of acinar cells in adult tree shrew, a primate-like animal

Study of tree shrew biology and models: A booming and prosperous field for biomedical research

The tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri) has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates (NHPs) in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates. In recent years, significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies, including the determination of the tree shrew genome, genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells, viral vector-mediated gene delivery, and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas. However, the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field. Additionally, determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty. Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, myopia, and psychosocial stress-induced depression, with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite these efforts, the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research. This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model. We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies. The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models, meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.

Establishment of a pancreatic cancer animal model using the pancreas-targeted hydrodynamic gene delivery method

This research developed an easy-to-use, reproducible pancreatic cancer animal model utilizing pancreas-targeted hydrodynamic gene delivery to deliver human pancreatic cancer-related genes to the pancreas of wild-type rats. KRAS G12D -induced pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions showed malignant transformation in the main pancreatic duct at 4 weeks and developed acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, which led to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma within 5 weeks, and the gene combination of KRAS G12D and YAP enhanced these effects. The repeat hydrodynamic gene delivery of KRAS G12D  + YAP combination at 4 weeks showed acinar-to-ductal metaplasia in all rats and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in 80% of rats 1 week later. Metastatic tumors in the liver, lymph nodes, and subcutaneous lesions and nervous invasion were confirmed. KRAS G12D and YAP combined transfer contributes to the E- to N-cadherin switch in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and to tumor metastases. This pancreatic cancer model will speed up pancreatic cancer research for novel treatments and biomarkers for early diagnosis.

Application of Animal Models in Cancer Research: Recent Progress and Future Prospects

Animal models refers to the animal experimental objects and related materials that can simulate human body established in medical research. As the second-largest disease in terms of morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular disease, cancer has always been the focus of human attention all over the world, which makes it a research hotspot in the medical field. At the same time, more and more animal models have been constructed and used in cancer research. With the deepening of research, the construction methods of cancer animal models are becoming more and more diverse, including chemical induction, xenotransplantation, gene programming, and so on. In recent years, patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) model has become a research hotspot because it can retain the microenvironment of the primary tumor and the basic characteristics of cells. Animal models can be used not only to study the biochemical and physiological processes of the occurrence and development of cancer in objects but also for the screening of cancer drugs and the exploration of gene therapy. In this paper, several main tumor animal models and the application progress of animal models in tumor research are systematically reviewed. Finally, combined with the latest progress and development trend in this field, the future research of tumor animal model was prospected.

The Tree Shrew as a Model for Cancer Research

Animal disease models are necessary in medical research, and an appropriate animal model is of great importance for studies about the prevention or treatment of cancer. The most important thing in the selection of animal models is to consider the similarity between animals and humans. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is a squirrel-like mammal which placed in the order Scandentia. Whole-genome sequencing has revealed that tree shrews are extremely similar to primate and humans than to rodents, with many highly conserved genes, which makes the data from studies that use tree shrews as models more convincing and the research outcomes more easily translatable. In tumor research, tree shrews are often used as animal models for hepatic and mammary cancers. As research has progressed, other types of tree shrew tumor models have been developed and exhibit clinical manifestations similar to those of humans. Combining the advantages of both rodents and primates, the tree shrew is expected to be the most powerful animal model for studying tumors.