Mouse models of gastrointestinal tumors.

The laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) has become one of the best model animal species in biomedical research today because of its abundant genetic/genomic information, and easy mutagenesis using transgenic and gene knockout technology. Genetically engineered mice have become essential tools in both mechanistic studies and drug development. In this article I will review recent topics in gastrointestinal cancer model mice, with emphasis on the results obtained in our laboratory. They include: (i) mouse models for familial adenomatous polyposis (Apc mutant mice; modifier genes of Apc intestinal polyposis; stabilizing beta-catenin mutant mice); (ii) mouse models for colon cancer (mouse models for hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; additional mutations in Apc mutant mice; models with mutations in other genes; models for colon cancer associated with inflammatory bowel diseases); and (iii) mouse models for gastric cancer.