Trp53 deletion stimulates the formation of metastatic pancreatic tumors

Morton, J. P. , Klimstra, D. S., Mongeau, M. E. and Lewis, B. C. (2008) Trp53 deletion stimulates the formation of metastatic pancreatic tumors. American Journal of Pathology, 172(4), pp. 1081-1087. (doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.070778) (PMID:18310506) (PMCID:PMC2276406)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

The presence of distant metastases is a common finding on diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying the dissemination of this tumor type remain poorly understood. Loss of the p53 tumor suppressor protein has been associated with tumor progression and metastasis in several tumor types including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Here, we describe the generation of a progressive and metastatic pancreatic cancer mouse model after the somatic and sporadic delivery of avian retroviruses encoding the mouse polyoma virus middle T antigen to elastase-tv-a transgenic mice with a pancreas-specific deletion of the Trp53 tumor suppressor locus. In this model, the tumors metastasize most frequently to the liver, consistent with human pancreatic carcinomas. Analysis of metastatic lesions demonstrated that concomitant loss of the Ink4a/Arf locus was not required for metastasis; however, pancreas-specific deletion of a single Ink4a/Arf allele cooperated with Trp53 deletion in a haploinsufficient manner to accelerate tumor development. Thus, our findings illustrate the potential role of p53 loss of function in pancreatic tumor progression, demonstrate the feasibility of modeling pancreatic cancer metastasis after somatic and sporadic oncogene activation, and indicate that our model may provide a useful experimental system for investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Morton, Professor Jen
Authors: Morton, J. P., Klimstra, D. S., Mongeau, M. E., and Lewis, B. C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:American Journal of Pathology
Publisher:American Society for Investigative Pathology
ISSN:0002-9440
ISSN (Online):1525-2191

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record