Derivation of MPR and TRAMP models of prostate cancer and prostate cancer metastasis for evaluation of therapeutic strategies.

Pre-clinical models of primary and metastatic prostate cancer are increasingly needed to evaluate efficacy of the new therapeutic strategies currently under investigation. The androgen-independent RM1 and androgen-dependent TR cell lines derived from transgenic mouse models of prostate cancer were examined in this regard. Following implantation in immune competent mice, the RM1 cell line was able to generate extremely fast growing s.c. and iprost tumors and metastatic lung lesions providing a time period of approximately 14-17 days from the time of tumor establishment to animal sacrifice to assess therapies. Implantation of TR cell lines resulted in more slowly growing s.c. and iprost tumors and metastatic lung lesions that exhibited highly variable incidence and growth. These models represent the best available means to evaluate therapeutics in primary and metastatic prostate cancer variants in an intact immune system.