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Nascimento-Gonçalves E, Seixas F, Ferreira R, Colaço B, Parada B, Oliveira PA. An overview of the latest in state-of-the-art murine models for prostate cancer. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2021; 16:1349-1364. [PMID: 34224283 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1943354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex, heterogenous and multifocal disease, which is debilitating for patients and often fatal - due to bone metastasis and castration-resistant cancer. The use of murine models that mimic human disease has been crucial in the development of innovative therapies and for better understanding the mechanisms associated with initiation and progression of PCa. AREAS COVERED This review presents a critical analysis of murine models for the study of PCa, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses and applications. EXPERT OPINION In animal models, disease may not occur exactly as it does in humans, and sometimes the levels of efficacy that certain treatments obtain in animal models cannot be translated into clinical practice. To choose the most appropriate animal model for each research work, it is crucial to understand the anatomical and physiological differences between the mouse and the human prostate, while it is also important to identify biological similarities and differences between murine and human prostate tumors. Although significant progress has already been made, thanks to many years of research and study, the number of new challenges and obstacles to overcome mean there is a long and difficult road still to travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabete Nascimento-Gonçalves
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.,Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (Laqv-requimte),department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro (UA), Portugal
| | - Fernanda Seixas
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rita Ferreira
- Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (Laqv-requimte),department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro (UA), Portugal
| | - Bruno Colaço
- Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Zootechnics, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Belmiro Parada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (Icbr), Coimbra, Portugal.,University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Urology and Renal Transplantation Department, Coimbra University Hospital Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
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Shukla S, Bhaskaran N, Maclennan GT, Gupta S. Deregulation of FoxO3a accelerates prostate cancer progression in TRAMP mice. Prostate 2013; 73:1507-17. [PMID: 23765843 PMCID: PMC4018753 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Forkhead box, class "O" (FoxO) transcription factors are involved in multiple signaling pathways and possess tumor suppressor functions. Loss of PTEN and activation of PI3K/Akt is frequently observed in prostate cancer, which may potentially inactivate FoxO activity. We therefore investigated the role of FoxO transcription factors in prostate cancer progression, in particular FoxO3a, in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, which mimics progressive forms of human disease. METHODS Prostate cancer progression in TRAMP mice was followed from 8 to 28 weeks. Expression patterns of Akt, FoxO1a, FoxO3a, FoxO4, and their phosphorylated form, DNA binding activity and downstream signaling molecules during different stages of disease progression were examined by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA), and immunohistochemistry. Inhibition of FoxO3a activity was attained by using FoxO3a peptide treatment to TRAMP mice. RESULTS In TRAMP mice, FoxO3a activity is negatively regulated by Akt/PKB through post-translational modification. Progressive increase in Akt activation during prostate cancer progression led to increase phosphorylation of FoxO3a and binding with 14-3-3, which potentially affected its transcriptional activity in age-specific manner. Furthermore, blocking FoxO3a activity resulted in accelerated prostate cancer progression in these mice, which was associated with the loss of cell cycle control and increased proliferation and survival markers. CONCLUSIONS Restoration of FoxO3a activity represents an attractive therapeutic target in the chemoprevention and possibly in inhibition of progression of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Shukla
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University & The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
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Wierstra I. FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) in tumorigenesis: overexpression in human cancer, implication in tumorigenesis, oncogenic functions, tumor-suppressive properties, and target of anticancer therapy. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 119:191-419. [PMID: 23870513 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407190-2.00016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is a typical proliferation-associated transcription factor and is also intimately involved in tumorigenesis. FOXM1 stimulates cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by promoting the entry into S-phase and M-phase. Additionally, FOXM1 is required for proper execution of mitosis. In accordance with its role in stimulation of cell proliferation, FOXM1 exhibits a proliferation-specific expression pattern and its expression is regulated by proliferation and anti-proliferation signals as well as by proto-oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Since these factors are often mutated, overexpressed, or lost in human cancer, the normal control of the foxm1 expression by them provides the basis for deregulated FOXM1 expression in tumors. Accordingly, FOXM1 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer. FOXM1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis, because it contributes to oncogenic transformation and participates in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, including positive effects on angiogenesis, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated lung inflammation, self-renewal capacity of cancer cells, prevention of premature cellular senescence, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. However, in the context of urethane-induced lung tumorigenesis, FOXM1 has an unexpected tumor suppressor role in endothelial cells because it limits pulmonary inflammation and canonical Wnt signaling in epithelial lung cells, thereby restricting carcinogenesis. Accordingly, FOXM1 plays a role in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks and maintenance of genomic stability, that is, prevention of polyploidy and aneuploidy. The implication of FOXM1 in tumorigenesis makes it an attractive target for anticancer therapy, and several antitumor drugs have been reported to decrease FOXM1 expression.
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Cooperation between Stat3 and Akt signaling leads to prostate tumor development in transgenic mice. Neoplasia 2011; 13:254-65. [PMID: 21390188 DOI: 10.1593/neo.101388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2010] [Revised: 11/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we describe the development of a transgenic mouse in which a rat probasin promoter (ARR(2)Pb) was used to direct prostate specific expression of a constitutively active form of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (i.e., Stat3C). ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C mice exhibited hyperplasia and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions in both ventral and dorsolateral prostate lobes at 6 and 12 months; however, no adenocarcinomas were detected. The effect of combined loss of PTEN was examined by crossing ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C mice with PTEN(+/-) null mice. PTEN(+/-) null mice on an ICR genetic background developed only hyperplasia and PIN at 6 and 12 months, respectively. ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C x PTEN(+/-) mice exhibited a more severe prostate phenotype compared with ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C and PTEN(+/-) mice. ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C x PTEN(+/-) mice developed adenocarcinomas in the ventral prostate as early as 6 months (22% incidence) that reached an incidence of 61% by 12 months. Further evaluations indicated that phospho-Stat3, phospho-Akt, phospho-nuclear factor κB, cyclin D1, and Ki67 were upregulated in adenocarcinomas from ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C x PTEN(+/-) mice. In addition, membrane staining for β-catenin and E-cadherin was reduced. The changes in Stat3 and nuclear factor κB phosphorylation correlated most closely with tumor progression. Collectively, these data provide evidence that Stat3 and Akt signaling cooperate in prostate cancer development and progression and that ARR(2)Pb.Stat3C x PTEN(+/-) mice represent a novel mouse model of prostate cancer to study these interactions.
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Gordon IK, Khanna C. Modeling opportunities in comparative oncology for drug development. ILAR J 2011; 51:214-20. [PMID: 21131722 DOI: 10.1093/ilar.51.3.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful development of novel cancer drugs depends on well-reasoned scientific drug discovery, rigorous preclinical development, and carefully conceived clinical trials. Failure in any of these steps contributes to poor rates of approval for new drugs to treat cancer. As technological and scientific advances have opened the door to a variety of novel approaches to cancer drug discovery and development, preclinical models that can answer questions about the activity and safety of novel therapies are increasingly necessary. The advance of a drug to clinical trials based on information from preclinical models presupposes that the models convey informative data for future use in human patients with cancer. The study of novel cancer drugs using in vitro models is highly controllable, reproducible, relatively inexpensive, and linked to high throughput. However, these models fail to reproduce many of the complex features of human cancer. Mouse models address some of these limitations but have important biological differences from human cancer. The integration of studies using pet dogs with spontaneously occurring tumors as models in the development path can answer questions not adequately addressed in conventional models and is therefore gaining attention and interest in drug development communities. The study of novel cancer drugs in dogs with naturally occurring tumors allows drug assessment in a cancer that shares many fundamental features with the human cancer condition, and thus provides an opportunity to answer questions that inform the cancer drug development path in ways not possible in more conventional models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira K Gordon
- NCI Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Ahmad I, Sansom OJ, Leung HY. The role of murine models of prostate cancer in drug target discovery and validation. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2009; 4:879-88. [DOI: 10.1517/17460440903049308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Dhaese S, Vandepoele K, Waterschoot D, Vanloo B, Vandekerckhove J, Ampe C, Van Troys M. The mouse thymosin beta15 gene family displays unique complexity and encodes a functional thymosin repeat. J Mol Biol 2009; 387:809-25. [PMID: 19233202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2008] [Revised: 02/10/2009] [Accepted: 02/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We showed earlier that human beta-thymosin 15 (Tb15) is up-regulated in prostate cancer, confirming studies from others that propagated Tb15 as a prostate cancer biomarker. In this first report on mouse Tb15, we show that, unlike in humans, four Tb15-like isoforms are present in mouse. We used phylogenetic analysis of deuterostome beta-thymosins to show that these four new isoforms cluster within the vertebrate Tb15-clade. Intriguingly, one of these mouse beta-thymosins, Tb15r, consists of two beta-thymosin domains. The existence of such a repeat beta-thymosin is so far unique in vertebrates, though common in lower eukaryotes. Biochemical data indicate that Tb15r potently sequesters actin. In a cellular context, Tb15r behaves as a bona fide beta-thymosin, lowering central stress fibre content. We reveal that a complex genomic organization underlies Tb15r expression: Tb15r results from read-through transcription and alternative splicing of two tandem duplicated mouse Tb15 genes. Transcript profiling of all mouse beta-thymosin isoforms (Tb15s, Tb4 and Tb10) reveals that two isoform switches occur between embryonic and adult tissues, and indicates Tb15r as the major mouse Tb15 isoform in adult cells. Tb15r is present also in mouse prostate cancer cell lines. This insight into the mouse Tb15 family is fundamental for future studies on Tb15 in mouse (prostate) cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stien Dhaese
- Department of Medical Protein Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
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Abstract
Advances in science and technology have allowed us to manipulate the mouse genome and analyse the effect of specific genetic alterations on the development of prostate cancer in vivo. We can now analyse the molecular basis of initiation, invasion and progression to metastatic disease. The current mouse models utilise knockout, knock-in or conditional regulation of expression using Cre-loxP technology. Genes that have been targeted include homeobox genes, tumour suppressors and oncogenes, growth factors (and their receptors), steroid hormones and cell-cycle regulators, as well as pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Bigenic models indicate that that two 'hits' are required for progression from intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN) to invasion carcinoma, and two to five hits are needed for metastasis. Here, we discuss the numerous models that mimic various aspects of the disease process, such as PIN, locally invasive adenocarcinoma and metastatic disease. Currently the PB-Cre4 x PTEN(loxP/loxP) mouse is the only model that spans the entire continuum from initiation to local invasion and metastasis. Such mouse models increase our understanding of the disease process and provide targets for novel therapeutic approaches. Hopefully, the transgenic models will become inducible and ultimately allow both temporal and spatial gene inactivation. Compound mutational models will also develop further, with double and triple knock-in or knockout systems adding to our knowledge of the interaction between different signalling cascades.
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Abstract
Stromal-epithelial interactions mediated by paracrine signaling mechanisms dictate prostate development and progression of prostate cancer. The regulatory role of androgens in both the prostate stromal and epithelial compartments set the prostate apart from many other organs and tissues with regard to gene targeting. The identification of androgen-dependent prostate epithelial promoters has allowed successful gene targeting to the prostate epithelial compartment. Currently, there are no transgenic mouse models available to specifically alter gene expression within the prostate stromal compartment. As a primary metastatic site for prostate cancer is bone, the functional dissection of the bone stromal compartment is important for understanding stromal-epithelial interactions associated with metastatic tumor growth. Use of currently available methodologies for the expression or deletion of gene expression in recent research studies has advanced our understanding of the stroma. However, the complexity of stromal heterogeneity within the prostate remains a challenge to obtaining compartment or cell-lineage-specific in vivo models necessary for furthering our understanding of prostatic developmental, benign, tumorigenic, and metastatic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S Jackson
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-2765, USA
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Pienta KJ, Abate-Shen C, Agus DB, Attar RM, Chung LWK, Greenberg NM, Hahn WC, Isaacs JT, Navone NM, Peehl DM, Simons JW, Solit DB, Soule HR, VanDyke TA, Weber MJ, Wu L, Vessella RL. The current state of preclinical prostate cancer animal models. Prostate 2008; 68:629-39. [PMID: 18213636 PMCID: PMC3681409 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in men around the world. The field of prostate cancer research continues to be hindered by the lack of relevant preclinical models to study tumorigenesis and to further development of effective prevention and therapeutic strategies. The Prostate Cancer Foundation held a Prostate Cancer Models Working Group (PCMWG) Summit on August 6th and 7th, 2007 to address these issues. The PCMWG reviewed the state of prostate cancer preclinical models and identified the current limitations of cell line, xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models that have hampered the transition of scientific findings from these models to human clinical trials. In addition the PCMWG identified administrative issues that inhibit the exchange of models and impede greater interactions between academic centers and these centers with industry. The PCMWG identified potential solutions for discovery bottlenecks that include: (1) insufficient number of models with insufficient molecular and biologic diversity to reflect human cancer, (2) a lack of understanding of the molecular events that define tumorigenesis, (3) a lack of tools for studying tumor-host interactions, (4) difficulty in accessing model systems across institutions, and (5) addressing why preclinical studies appear not to be predictive of human clinical trials. It should be possible to apply the knowledge gained molecular and epigenetic studies to develop new cell lines and models that mimic progressive and fatal prostate cancer and ultimately improve interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth J Pienta
- University of Michigan, Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Raman V, Pathak AP, Glunde K, Artemov D, Bhujwalla ZM. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of transgenic models of cancer. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2007; 20:186-99. [PMID: 17451171 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of cancer, where a single genetic alteration can have multiple functional effects, makes it a fascinating but humbling disease to study, and the necessity of investigating it in its entirety is more imperative than ever before. Advances in transgene technology have made it possible to create cancer cells, or mice with specific genetic alterations, and the application of an array of both functional and molecular non-invasive MR methods to these transgenic cancer cells and mice to characterize their phenotypic traits is revolutionizing our understanding of cancer. With the establishment of multi-modality molecular imaging centers within barrier or pathogen-free facilities, multi-parametric and multi-modality imaging of transgenic mouse models of human cancer are becoming increasingly prevalent. In this review, we outline some of the methods currently available for generating transgenic mice and cancer cell lines. We also present examples of the application of MR methods to transgenic models that are providing novel insights into the molecular and functional characteristics of cancer and are leading to an era of "non-invasive phenotyping" of the effects of specific molecular alterations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venu Raman
- JHU ICMIC Program, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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