Osteosarcomas in transgenic mice expressing an alpha-amylase-SV40 T-antigen hybrid gene.

Mice of a transgenic mouse lineage 501, produced by zygotic injection of the parotid alpha-amylase promoter-SV40 T-antigen hybrid gene, developed osteosarcomas at about 15 months of age. The tumors predominantly involved the axial skeleton, were sometimes multiple, and metastasized to the liver. A cell line derived from a primary tumor produced osteosarcomas on transfer to nude mice. The 501 transgenic lineage thus provides a valuable new model for studying the histogenesis of osteosarcomas.