Abstract
The book Mouse Models of Cancer: A Laboratory Manual is an invaluable reference for anyone working with such models. It is a historical walk through the development and use of various mouse models, as well as a laboratory manual that describes the implementation of current techniques in the development and use of mouse models of cancer. Major advances are highlighted and describe the use of mouse models to understand not only the biology of cancer but also the increasingly important use of mouse models as preclinical models in developing new cancer therapies.
The book comprises 22 chapters and 7 appendices, which are divided into 3 parts: “Origins and History of Mouse Models of Cancer,” “Recent Approaches to Modeling Cancer in Mice,” and “Analyzing Mouse Cancer Phenotypes.” The book provides a nice introduction to genetically engineered mouse models and describes strategies for producing transgenic germline models, gene knockout and knock-in models, and conditional gene mutation and inducible models. It also includes recent advances in models derived from viral-mediated gene delivery, RNA interference, transposon insertional mutagenesis, and chemical carcinogenesis. Transplantation models are discussed, and strategies for developing chimeric, allograft, and xenograft models are presented. The use of mouse models for drug optimization and testing in clinical trials is also discussed. Part 3 of the manual focuses on model analysis and characterization and includes imaging, surgical, and histopathologic techniques to characterize tumor development, progression, and metastasis. Finally, the appendices provide applications for genetically engineered mouse models in clinical research and general safety and hazardous material information. Each chapter is organized with an introduction to the model and its utility and is often followed by 1 or more protocols. The reader is provided with helpful tables and relevant recipes. Protocols in the manual are clearly organized by introductory description, materials, methods, troubleshooting, and discussion. I cannot speak to the reproducibility of all the protocols in the book, and the topics covered are too broad to be all-inclusive in this space-limited laboratory manual, although additional references and websites are provided. The chapter figures are often in color and provide excellent schematics of model generation and other methods described. Histology images are also in color and are of high quality, although some images would benefit from a higher magnification and annotations.
Highlights include a chapter on immunodeficient mouse models of cancer, which includes a table of human tumor and immune system engraftment in various immunodeficient mice. This chapter also discusses patient-derived tumor models and their use in optimizing patient-specific therapy. Chapter 16 focuses on analysis of mouse model pathology. It introduces and defines pathology and the importance of the histopathologic examination of mouse models, and it stresses proper gross and microscopic preparation and examination of tissues. The analysis process is illustrated—from model generation and background strain data to tissue collection and slide generation to the importance of including an experienced pathologist. The discussion includes the handling of experimental pathology data, the representation of pathology images, and avoidance of common pitfalls. This chapter is unique, as it also includes a table that provides links to whole-slide images for select figures. The links are easy to follow, and the digital whole-slide images are of high quality and easy to navigate. As the authors state, the chapter is “not a comprehensive review of pathology,” but it does a good job of providing awareness for the importance of pathology and including a pathologist in model analysis. As such, basic protocols for mouse necropsy and immunohistochemistry provide a start to smaller laboratories. A robust list of references at the end provides further information.
My review is based on the paperback edition, which would serve nicely in the laboratory, as this manual was intended; however, the hardcover edition would also serve as a nice desk reference for anyone working with mouse models of cancer. With the current intricacies of modern mouse models of cancer and the increasing use of mice as preclinical models, this is an invaluable resource for the cancer researcher and research laboratory as well as pathologists who work with mouse models.