The Use of Targeted Mouse Models for Preclinical Testing of Novel Cancer Therapeutics
Kenneth P. Olive and David A. Tuveson
University of Vermont, Cardiovascular Research Institute Burlington, VT, USA.
Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 12, 5277-5287, September 15, 2006

• > The use of genetically engineered cancer-prone mice as relevant surrogates for patients during the development of pertinent clinical applications is an unproven expectation that awaits direct demonstration. Despite the generally disappointing findings using tumor xenografts and certain early transgenic cancer models to predict therapeutic efficacy in patients, the dramatic progress of mouse models in recent years engenders optimism that the newest generation of mouse models will provide a higher standard of predictive utility in the process of drug development.
  
  Note: To image the KC and KPC models, we have chosen to pursue high-resolution ultrasound as a noninvasive means of imaging. Due to the small size of a mouse, extremely high resolution may be achieved from a 35 MH ztransducer (Vevo 660, VisualSonics,Inc.), while still maintaining a deep enough field of view to image the entire abdominal cavity. This system offers the advantage of short session time (f15 min/mouse), high-resolution with the ability to reconstruct and quantitate tumor volumes, and small instrument size to enable the placement of the ultrasound unit directly in our animal room. Using ultrasound, we have been able to image and quantify tumors over time following the detection of lesions as small as 1 mm in diameter.