The role of mouse models in colorectal cancer research-The need and the importance of the orthotopic models

Rui C Oliveira; Ana Margarida Abrantes; José Guilherme Tralhão; Maria Filomena Botelho

doi:10.1002/ame2.12102

The role of mouse models in colorectal cancer research-The need and the importance of the orthotopic models

Animal Model Exp Med. 2020 Mar 11;3(1):1-8. doi: 10.1002/ame2.12102. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Authors

Rui C Oliveira^{1

2}, Ana Margarida Abrantes^{1

3}, José Guilherme Tralhão^{1

3

4}, Maria Filomena Botelho^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Biophysics Unit Faculty of Medicine University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal.
² Pathology Department University Hospital (CHUC) Coimbra Portugal.
³ Centre of Investigation on Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO) Coimbra Portugal.
⁴ Surgery A Department Faculty of Medicine University Hospital (CHUC) Coimbra Portugal.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a worldwide health burden, with high incidence and mortality, especially in the advanced stages of the disease. Preclinical models are very important and valuable to discover and validate early and specific biomarkers as well as new therapeutic targets. In order to accomplish that, the animal models must replicate the clinical evolution of the disease in all of its phases. In this article, we review the existent mouse models, with their strengths and weaknesses in the replication of human cancer disease progression, with major focus on orthotopic models.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; mouse model; orthotopic model.

Publication types

Review