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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
Pathobiology of autochthonous prostate cancer in a pre-clinical transgenic mouse model
Paula J Kaplan-Lefko1, Tsuey-Ming Chen, Michael M Ittmann
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Background:
Animal models that closely mimic clinical disease can be exploited to hasten the pace of translational research. To this end, we have defined windows of opportunity in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model of prostate cancer as a paradigm for designing pre-clinical trials.
Methods:
The incidence of cancer, metastasis, and distribution of pathology were examined as a function of time in TRAMP mice. The expression of various markers of differentiation were characterized.
Results:
The TRAMP model develops progressive, multifocal, and heterogeneous disease. Each lobe of the prostate progressed at a different rate. Cytokeratin 8, E-cadherin, and androgen receptor (AR) were expressed during cancer progression but levels were reduced or absent in late stage disease. A distinct epithelial to neuroendocrine (ENT) shift was observed to be a stochastic event related to prostate cancer progression in TRAMP.
Conclusions:
This study will serve as the basis for the rational design of pre-clinical studies with genetically engineered mouse models.
