Modeling human lung cancer in mice: similarities and shortcomings.

Lung cancer kills more Americans yearly than any other neoplastic process. Mortality rates have changed little over the past several decades, despite improvements in surgical techniques, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The identification of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in human lung tumor specimens, including K-ras, p53, p16INK4a and Rb, offers molecular explanations for tumor development and resistance to therapy. Mouse models of human lung cancer may advance our understanding of this disease. The examination of mice which develop lung cancer either spontaneously or due to carcinogen exposure, and the creation of mouse strains harboring the specific genetic mutations found in human lung cancer are among strategies being pursued.