doi: 10.5732/cjc.011.10007

Animal models of melanoma: a somatic cell gene delivery mouse model allows rapid evaluation of genes implicated in human melanoma

Andrea J. McKinney, Sheri L. Holmen

Department of Drug and Target Discovery, Nevada Cancer Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada 89135, USA. sholmen@nvcancer.org.

[Abstract] The increasing incidence and mortality associated with advanced stages of melanoma are cause for concern. Few treatment options are available for advanced melanoma and the 5-year survival rate is less than 15%. Targeted therapies may revolutionize melanoma treatment by providing less toxic and more effective strategies. However, maximizing effectiveness requires further understanding of the molecular alterations that drive tumor formation, progression, and maintenance, as well as elucidating the mechanisms of resistance. Several different genetic alterations identified in human melanoma have been recapitulated in mice. This review outlines recent progress made in the development of mouse models of melanoma and summarizes what these findings reveal about the human disease. We begin with a discussion of traditional models and conclude with the recently developed RCAS/TVA somatic cell gene delivery mouse model of melanoma.

Chinese Journal of Cancer 2011, Volume: 30, Issue 3, Page: 153-162

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Andrea J. McKinney, Sheri L. Holmen. Animal models of melanoma: a somatic cell gene delivery mouse model allows rapid evaluation of genes implicated in human melanoma. Chin J Cancer. 2011, 30(3):153-162. doi:10.5732/cjc.011.10007


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