title: Generation of a unique strain of multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc(+/Min-FCCC)) mice with significantly increased numbers of colorectal adenomas.
abstract: The relevance of the Apc(+/Min) mouse model in the study of human colorectal cancer remains uncertain due to the predominance of small intestinal adenomas and few, if any, colorectal adenomas. A new strain of Apc(+/Min) mice (Apc(+/Min-FCCC)) with significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas has been generated and characterized. Male C57BL/6J-Apc(+/Min) mice (the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) were crossed with wild-type (Apc(+/+)) C57BL/6J females from an independent colony at this institution (offspring=Apc(+/Min-FCCC)) and 233 animals were evaluated over 20 generations. In order to determine the contribution of genetics to the enhanced colorectal adenoma phenotype, breeding pairs (Apc(+/Min) male x wild type female C57BL/6J) were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory and offspring (Apc(+/Min-JAX)) were maintained in our facility under identical conditions (n=98). Animals were fed Purina Rodent chow (#5013) diet containing 5% fat. The entire intestinal tract was examined histopathologically in both strains. Both the Apc and Pla2g2a (candidate for Mom1) genes were sequenced and found to be identical for both the Apc(+/Min-FCCC) and Apc(+/Min-JAX) mouse strains. The multiplicity of colorectal adenomas in the Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice was much higher than reported in the literature and significantly greater than the multiplicity of colorectal adenomas in Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice maintained in our facility (P=0.01). Apc(+/Min-FCCC) had a significantly greater incidence of rectal prolapse (P = 0.02) and small intestinal adenocarcinomes (P=0.001), and multiplicity of small intestinal adenocarcinomas (P=0.001) compared to Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice. Male Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice had significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas compared to female Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice (P=0.0002), as did male Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice vs. female Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice (P< 0.0001). These results allow us to conclude: (1) Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice are unique in that they develop significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas and small intestinal cancers, and a significantly greater incidence of small intestinal cancers and rectal prolapse than Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice. (2) This study represents the first report of a significant gender difference in multiplicity of colorectal adenomas. (3) Differences between Apc(+/Min-FCCC) and Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice in currently undefined genetic modifiers may contribute to the enhanced colorectal phenotype. (4) The Apc(+/Min-FCCC) strain is highly suited for the investigation of colorectal neoplastic disease and chemoprevention studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors.forename: Harry S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Wen-Chi L
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coudry
authors.forename: Monique A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Everley
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Spittle
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Litwin
authors.forename: Margie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Clapper
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017491:Genes, APC; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology