Inadequate dietary copper increases tumorigenesis in the Min mouse

Multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mice are a good model for the investiga tion of the effects of dietary alterations on genetic susceptibility for in testinal cancer. In the current study, nursing dams and their pups were pla ced on an AIN-93G diet containing either 1 or 6 ppm copper. The pups were m aintained on the same concentration of dietary copper after weanling until they were 13-weeks-old. Animals fed copper deficient diets had a significan tly (P < 0.0003) higher small intestine tumor incidence and a significantly (P < 0.04) higher small intestine tumor burden than animals fed adequate d ietary copper. Therefore, inadequate dietary copper can increase the sponta neous tumorigenesis that occurs in the Min mouse. (C) 2000 Published by Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.