OncoMouse® Studies

To overcome some of the disadvantages of xenograft tumor models including the use of immunocompromised mice, CDAS has developed a unique transgenic pancreatic OncoMouse model that develops spontaneous and bioluminescent pancreatic tumors. Through a specific agreement with DuPont Intellectual Assets & Licensing, CDAS is the only commercial provider of preclinical in vivo compound efficacy and research studies using spontaneous tumor models linking an activated oncogene with a bioluminescent reporter system. It is now possible for scientists to study drug effects in a more physiologically relevant context which will better predict the effect of the drug in humans.

The spontaneous pancreatic OncoMouse tumor model developed by CDAS, EL1-luc/EL1-SV40 T-antigen transgenic, offers a non-invasive approach for monitoring pancreatic tumor development and provides a more relevant biological picture of cancer progression.

Rapamycin treatment suppresses pancreatic tumor development. Bioluminescence images of a representative mouse from rapamycin- and vehicle-treated groups were shown. Treatment started when the mice were 11 weeks of age.	Selected organs were excised, homogenized and tested for luciferase activity. Data are presented as mean ± SE.
	A. Bioluminescence imaging of a 10-week-old female EL1-luc/TAg mouse showed pancreas specific signal. Postmortem imaging of the excised pancreas and pancreas-free carcass confirmed that the bioluminescence signals were restricted to the pancreas. B. Imaging of a 12-week-old female EL1-luc/TAg mouse detected increased bioluminescent signal from two hotspots, which showed highly vascularized small tumors. Postmortem imaging confirmed the bioluminescence imaging observation. C. A 19 week-old female mouse showed significant increase of the bioluminescence signal in the pancreatic region. This mouse had the basal level of bioluminescence at 12 week of age. Necropsy analysis revealed a large pancreatic tumor in this mouse and mets in theliver and intestine. D. A 19 week-old female mouse with multiple metastases to the abdomen, as indicated by imaging. Necropsy and imaging ex vivo imaging analysis showed metastases in mesenteric fat and reproductive fat.