Precancer in Animal Models: Sequentially Acquired or Predetermined?

摘要: The natural history of cancer is still not clear. clinical starting point has been identified in precancerous intraepithelial neoplasms. We currently think neoplastic progression as a multi-step continuum involving multiple somatic mutations. Early detection programs have had enormous effects on mortality rates some cancers. However, patient populations seem to elude our best treatment efforts. Studies epithelial precancers animal models support the notion that biological potential cells fully encoded precancer. This implies subsequent events are primarily epigenetic and “code” will be better understood by examining rather than end-stage cancer. In this review opinion we focus breast experimental because they offer richest data sets for answering question posed title: Sequentially acquired or predetermined? large measure, result three critical components: (1) Longstanding efforts stratify precancer prognosis therapy response; (2) An array genetically engineered mouse (GEM) cancer; (3) Experimental model systems including transplantation technologies. There emerging which similar, however, other organ sites, both (prostate, pancreas, intestine) non-epithelial (glia, lymphoid), may lead related conclusions [1–5].