title: Transgenic mouse models of hormonal mammary carcinogenesis: advantages and limitations.
abstract: Mouse models of breast cancer, especially transgenic and knockout mice, have been established as valuable tools in shedding light on factors involved in preneoplastic changes, tumor development and malignant progression. The majority of mouse transgenic models develop estrogen receptor (ER) negative tumors. This is seen as a drawback because the majority of human breast cancers present an ER positive phenotype. On the other hand, several transgenic mouse models have been developed that produce ER positive mammary tumors. These include mice over-expressing aromatase, ERα, PELP-1 and AIB-1. In this review, we will discuss the value of these models as physiologically relevant in vivo systems to understand breast cancer as well as some of the pitfalls involving these models. In all, we argue that the use of transgenic models has improved our understanding of the molecular aspects and biology of breast cancer.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors: Nameer B
authors: NB
authors: Kirma
authors: Rajeshwar R
authors: RR
authors: Tekmal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators