Scientists use mice to reproduce aspects of human breast cancer to find healing in women -
Scientists have regularly used mice to replicate aspects of cancer human breast in an effort to find a cure for the most common type of cancer in women.
But what is the effectiveness of these preclinical models effectively mimicking the disease and giving scientists the opportunity to develop meaningful comparisons?
Eran Andrechek, a professor of physiology in the College of Human Medicine at the University of Michigan, found that most of the different models used in research on breast cancer can reproduce several features of human disease, in particular in genes.
study can now be found in the paper Breast Cancer Research .
using all existing data that was available, Andrechek with MSU doctoral student Daniel Hollern, analyzed 1,172 breast samples tumors of mice from 26 different preclinical models and was able to compile one of the largest databases to show that mouse strains were best suited to study a particular type of human breast cancer.
"We found that the vast majority of human breast cancers may be represented by one of the strains we studied," said Andrechek. "But these models must be chosen very carefully."
A careful examination is important because all models can reproduce the same diversity found in breast cancer. A strain can show similarities in tumors, while others may have similarities in genes that are activated. However, none of the models can be effective in demonstrating how the cancer signals to other cells that indicate the disease from developing.
the research highlights how how these models should be used to study the disease and new Andrechek database it could prove to be a valuable resource for researchers worldwide.
"There are definitely clear parallel between mice and men regarding breast cancer and this study provides legitimacy to the use of these models to ultimately a cure can be found, "he said.
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