Mouse Models of Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis are two main clinically defined forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic intestinal inflammation is inextricably linked to colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis (CAC). Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) have an increased risk of colon cancer. Our understanding of IBD and IBD-associated colon carcinogenesis depends largely on rodent models. AOM-DSS-induced colitis-associated colon cancer in mice is the most widely used and accepted model that can recapitulate the human IBD-associated colon cancer. Here, we have provided detailed protocols of this mouse model of experimentally induced chronic intestinal inflammation-associated colon cancer. We will also discuss the protocols for the isolation and analysis of inflammatory immune cells from the colon.