Reference SummaryAmundadottir LT, Cell Growth Differ 1995 Jun;6(6):737-48

Title

Synergistic interaction of transforming growth factor alpha and c-myc in mouse mammary and salivary gland tumorigenesis.

Authors

Amundadottir LT; Johnson MD; Merlino G; Smith GH; Dickson RB

Journal

Cell Growth Differ

Volume

6

Issue

6

Year

1995

Pages

737-48

Abstract

The c-myc oncogene is commonly amplified in breast cancer and is known to interact synergistically with transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) in vitro to promote phenotypic transformation of mammary epithelial cells. In addition, both genes are under sex steroid hormone regulation in breast cancer. We have used a bitransgenic mouse approach to test the relevance of Myc-TGF alpha interaction in mammary gland tumorigenesis of virgin animals in vivo. We mated single transgenic TGF alpha and c-myc mouse strains to yield double transgenic offspring for TGF alpha and c-myc. All (20 of 20) double transgenic TGF alpha/c-myc animals developed synchronous mammary tumors at a mean age of 66 days. An unexpected finding was that tumor latency and frequency in males and virgin females were identical. Thus, two gene products that are known to be coinduced in breast cancer by the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone strongly synergize to induce synchronous mammary tumors, independent of sex. The tumors, despite being estrogen receptor positive, were readily transplanted as highly malignant s.c. cancers in ovariectomized nude mice. Although approximately one-half of single transgenic c-myc virgin females also eventually developed mammary gland tumors, these were stochastic and arose after a long latency period of 9-12 months. Single transgenic virgin TGF alpha females and males, c-myc males, and transgene-negative littermates did not develop tumors (ages up to 15 months). The salivary glands of double transgenic animals also coexpress the two transgenes and show pathological abnormalities ranging from hyperplasias to frank adenocarcinomas. In contrast, the salivary glands of single transgenic and wild-type animals showed only mild hyperplasias or metaplasias, but tumors were not observed. In situ hybridization analysis of mammary and salivary glands revealed that hyperplastic and tumorous areas colocalize with regions that overexpress both the TGF alpha and c-myc transgenes. This indicates that there is a requirement for the presence of both proteins for transformation of these glands. In summary, TGF alpha and c-Myc synergize in an extremely powerful way to cause breast and salivary gland tumorigenesis in males and virgin females without a requirement for pregnancies.

Links

J:29599 – MGI References
7669729 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Strain Notes

Strain Note
CD-1;B6-Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led The genetic background of these mice is a mixture of C57BL/6J and CD-1.
STOCK Generated by crossing transgenic strains.
This STOCK genetic background is a mixture of FVB/N, C57BL/6J, and CD-1.
STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Expression of the transgene was not detected in normal mammary tissue from 3 month old mice.
This STOCK genetic background is a mixture of FVB/N, C57BL/6J, and CD-1.
STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Expression of the transgene was not detected in normal mammary tissue from 3 month old mice.
This STOCK genetic background is a mixture of FVB/N, C57BL/6J, and CD-1.
STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led This STOCK genetic background is a mixture of FVB/N, C57BL/6J, and CD-1.

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland adenocarcinoma
  • ZnCl2
Mammary gland

100

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland adenocarcinoma
  • ovariectomy
Mammary gland

100

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland adenocarcinoma Mammary gland

observed - 50

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Mammary gland cyst Mammary gland

observed

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland cyst Mammary gland

observed

STOCK Mammary gland cyst Mammary gland

observed

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland hyperplasia - atypical Mammary gland

observed

FVB/N-Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed

CD-1;B6-Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

0

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

0

STOCK Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

0

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland - Parotid adenocarcinoma Salivary gland - Parotid

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland - Parotid adenoma Salivary gland - Parotid

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland - Sublingual hyperplasia Salivary gland - Sublingual

observed

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland - Sublingual metaplasia - serous Salivary gland - Sublingual

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland - Sublingual metaplasia - squamous Salivary gland - Sublingual

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland - Sublingual metaplasia - squamous Salivary gland - Sublingual

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland - Submandibular hyperplasia Salivary gland - Submandibular

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland - Submandibular metaplasia - squamous Salivary gland - Submandibular

observed

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland hyperplasia Salivary gland

100

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland hyperplasia Salivary gland

observed

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland hyperplasia Salivary gland

0

STOCK Salivary gland hyperplasia Salivary gland

0

STOCK Salivary gland metaplasia Salivary gland

0

STOCK Tg(MtTGFA)100Lmb Salivary gland tumor Salivary gland

0

STOCK Tg(MMTV-Myc)141-3Led Salivary gland tumor Salivary gland

0

STOCK Salivary gland tumor Salivary gland

0