| Abstract: |
Most human solid cancers arise from one or a few mutated cells in an otherwise normally developed tissue. In order to understand the genetic and cellular basis of these tumors, it is necessary to have models that can closely recapitulate such an evolutionary process. Many mouse models have been reported using genetic engineering, but in most of them the causal genetic alteration is introduced into the genome of all or the majority of cells in a tissue to be studied, and causes developmental abnormality. The RCAS/TVA gene transfer method offers an attractive alternative, with which oncogenic mutations can be engineered into a small number of cells, with cell type selectivity, and after the organ development has completed. © 2012, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved. |
