Induction of mammary tumors by expression of polyomavirus middle T oncogene: a transgenic mouse model for metastatic disease.
The effect of mammary gland-specific expression of the polyomavirus middle T antigen was examined by establishing lines of transgenic mice that carry the middle T oncogene under the transcriptional control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer. By contrast to most transgenic strains carrying activated oncogenes, expression of polyomavirus middle T antigen resulted in the widespread transformation of the mammary epithelium and the rapid production of multifocal mammary adenocarcinomas. Interestingly, the majority of the tumor-bearing transgenic mice developed secondary metastatic tumors in the lung. Taken together, these results suggest that middle T antigen acts as a potent oncogene in the mammary epithelium and that cells that express it possess an enhanced metastatic potential.
Guy
C T
CT
Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Cardiff
R D
RD
Muller
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009857:Oncogenes; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming