Genetically engineered mouse models of astrocytoma: GEMs in the rough?

Astrocytomas are the most common form of brain cancer and are essentially! incurable due to their diffusely infiltrative nature. Mouse models of astro cytoma provide a useful system for understanding tumorigenesis of astrocyto mas and for designing and resting new therapies. Although molecular genetic alterations have been characterized in human astrocytomas, many of the mic e engineered with these mutations do not develop astrocytomas. Recently, su ccessful modeling of astrocytoma in the mouse has suggested that the combin ation of molecular alterations, the cell type in which the alterations take place, and the strain background all play a role in generating a model of astrocytoma.