Multiple cutaneous papillomas and carcinomas that develop spontaneously in a mouse mutant, the repeated epilation heterozygote Er/+.
After a chance observation that multiple cutaneous papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas occurred in 2 adult mice heterozygous for the repeated epilation gene Er, we surveyed a panel of 10 +/+ (wild type) and 30 Er/+ (heterozygous) mice from birth to over 2 years of age. Homozygous Er/Er mice could not be included since their defect is lethal at birth. Whereas no cutaneous tumors developed in the +/+ mice, 20 of the Er/+ mice, males and females, had developed 1-5 cutaneous papillomas and at least 1 cutaneous invasive squamous cell carcinoma by 2 years of age. No lesions were seen in mice younger than 6 months old. Although almost all Er/+ mice died with their tumor burden, no metastases have yet been proven histologically. The Er/+ mouse should serve as a useful model for the exploration of genetic factors in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in humans.
Lutzner
M A
MA
Guenet
J L
JL
Breitburd
F
F
D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000032:analysis; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor