A paradigm for cancer treatment using the retinoblastoma gene in a mouse model

Classification of Proliferative Pulmonary Lesions of the Mouse

Rapid advances in generating new mouse genetic models for lung neoplasia provide a continuous challenge for pathologists and investigators. Frequently, phenotypes of new models either have no precedents or are arbitrarily attributed according to incongruent human and mouse classifications. Thus, comparative characterization and validation of novel models can be difficult. To address these issues, a series of discussions was initiated by a panel of human, veterinary, and experimental pathologists during the Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium (NIH/National Cancer Institute) workshop on mouse models of lung cancer held in Boston on June 20-22, 2001. The panel performed a comparative evaluation of 78 cases of mouse and human lung proliferative lesions, and recommended development of a new practical classification scheme that would (a) allow easier comparison between human and mouse lung neoplasms, (b) accommodate newly emerging mouse neoplasms, and (c) address the interpretation of benign and preinvasive lesions of the mouse lung. Subsequent discussions with additional experts in pulmonary pathology resulted in the current proposal of a new classification. It is anticipated that this classification, as well as the complementary digital atlas of virtual histological slides, will help investigators and pathologists in their characterization of new mouse models, as well as stimulate further research aimed at a better understanding of proliferative lesions of the lung.

Cancer gene therapy

Cancer gene therapy is the transfer of genetic material to the cells of an individual with the goal of eradicating cancer cells, both in the primary tumor and metastases. Cancer gene therapy strategies exploit our expanding knowledge of the genetic basis of cancer, thereby allowing rationally targeted interventions at the molecular level. The successful implementation of cancer gene therapy in the clinic awaits the development of vectors capable of specific and efficient gene delivery to cancer cells. The first clinical applications of cancer gene therapy are likely to be in combination with conventional therapies, such as radiotherapy and immunotherapy.