Mouse models for human familial adenomatous polyposis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent type of cancer in the W estern hemisphere. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 150000 new eases are detected every year and more than (65 000 patients die from c omplications associated with this cancer Identification of genes implicated in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer in humans has promp ted the generation of mouse models for this cancer. We will provide a brief overview of these mouse models for CRC and what they have contributed to o ur understanding of the events involved in the initiation and progression o f this cancer.