Reference SummaryNielsen LL, Cancer Res 1991 Jul 15;51(14):3762-7

Title

Histopathology of salivary and mammary gland tumors in transgenic mice expressing a human Ha-ras oncogene.

Authors

Nielsen LL; Discafani CM; Gurnani M; Tyler RD

Journal

Cancer Res

Volume

51

Issue

14

Year

1991

Pages

3762-7

Abstract

Mutated ras genes are powerful transforming agents in vitro and are found in a wide variety of human tumors in vivo. We characterized the histopathology and p21 protein expression associated with tumorigenesis in line 69 transgenic mice carrying an activated, human c-Ha-ras gene on the Y-chromosome (A. C. Andres, C. A. Schonenberger, B. Groner, L. Hennighausen, M. LeMeur, and P. Gerlinger, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 1299-1303, 1987). Male mice developed salivary and/or mammary gland tumors. The salivary tumors were adenosquamous carcinomas arising from serous areas of the submandibular gland. They characteristically exhibited densely packed cords and sheets of moderately anaplastic cells. Tumorigenic tissue had a high mitotic index, and all tumor- bearing animals had an ongoing inflammatory response as evidenced by extensive immune cell infiltration of affected tissue. Half of the mammary gland tumors were adenosquamous carcinomas with multiple foci of squamous metaplasia, while the rest were adenocarcinomas containing glandular tissue. Most tumors had a high mitotic index, and abnormal mitotic figures were common. All tumors produced p21 ras, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blots. Both tumor types expressed elevated levels of p21 protein. Microscopic lung metastases were present in 5 of 35 animals (14%). Our results suggest that this transgenic mouse will provide a useful model for testing therapies directed against ras-associated tumorigenesis.

Links

J:46458 – MGI References
2065330 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Strain Notes

Strain Note
B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL The "WapHRAS" transgene was reported to be highly expressed in the salivary glands of these mice.

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Eye - Harderian gland hyperplasia Eye - Harderian gland

0

B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Mammary gland adenocarcinoma Mammary gland

observed

B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Mammary gland carcinoma - adenosquamous Mammary gland

observed

B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Mammary gland metaplasia - squamous Mammary gland

observed

B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

37

B6;SJL-Tg(Wap-HRAS)69Lln Chr YSJL Salivary gland - Submandibular carcinoma - adenosquamous Salivary gland - Submandibular

63