title: An inducible melanoma model implicates a role for RAS in tumor maintenance and angiogenesis.
abstract: The established tumor is maintained through complex and poorly understood host-tumor interactions guiding processes such as angiogenesis. The numerous and diverse genetic alterations that accompany tumor genesis raises questions as to whether experimental cancer-promoting mutations remain relevant to tumor maintenance. Utilizing a new doxycycline-inducible H-RASV12G INK4a null mouse melanoma model, we have shown that melanoma genesis and maintenance are strictly dependent upon H-RASV12G expression. Withdrawal of doxycycline and H-RASV12G down-regulation resulted in clinical and histological regression of primary and explanted tumors. Moreover, the initial stages of regression were highlighted by dramatic activation of apoptosis in the tumor cells as well as host-derived endothelial cells. These data provide genetic evidence that H-RASV12G plays a critical role in tumor maintenance and tumor angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D004318:Doxycycline