MMTV-c-erbB-2 and MMTV-TGF alpha transgenic rats

Excerpt

Many transgenic models of neoplastic disease have been produced in mice, including models of breast cancer. In comparison, few transgenic rat models have been described. Nevertheless, the rat remains an interesting model since the origin, pathology and sensitivity to hormones of rat mammary tumours closely resembles those of the human. Both TGF alpha and c-erbB-2 are commonly expressed, dominantly acting oncogenes in human breast cancer. TGF alpha is a member of the EGF family of proteins that induce a mitogenic response by activating members of the EGF tyrosine kinase receptor family, which includes c-erbB-2. However, results from transgenic mouse models using these genes, or their activated products, are somewhat ambiguous in several respects. …