A new mouse model of pancreatic cancer: PTEN gets its Akt together

Cancer Cell. 2005 Sep;8(3):171-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2005.08.007.

Abstract

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a negative regulator of the oncogenic PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway. Loss-of-function mutations of PTEN are seen in several human solid cancers. A murine model of conditional Pten inactivation in the pancreas is described that leads to acquisition of a profound metaplastic ductal phenotype accompanied by loss of differentiated acinar units. Evidence is presented for a centroacinar cell origin of the metaplastic "neoductules." These mice also develop invasive pancreatic adenocarcinomas at a low frequency, and provide a unique in vivo platform for exploring the role of PI3-K/Akt signaling in pancreatic neoplasia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Metaplasia / pathology
  • Mice
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / genetics*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse