Brain tumor animal models: importance and progress

Recent experiments indicate that some of the genetic abnormalities found in human brain tumors can induce tumors in mice with similar histologic chara cteristics to their human counterparts. Such studies help unravel the biolo gy of tumorigenesis and indicate that some of the mutations and alterations in gene expression found in human central nervous system tumors may actual ly contribute to the etiology of these diseases. In addition, these mouse-m odeling experiments may identify essential targets for therapy and provide test animals for preclinical trials of mechanistically designed therapeutic s. Curr Opin Oncol 2001. 13:143-147 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Inc.