Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent and deadliest tumors worldwide. Only few patients are amenable to surgery due to the late HCC diagnosis, and alternative treatments do not significantly improve the patient prognosis when tumor is unresectable. Thus, the investigation of HCC biology is required to identify new targets for early diagnosis, chemoprevention, and treatment. To study the molecular events leading to liver malignant transformation and tumor progression, a number of mouse models have been generated. Here, we highlight some of the genetically engineered mouse models that have proved to be valuable tools to study the molecular pathogenesis of human liver cancer. Also, we briefly describe the similarities between human and mouse HCC at the molecular level with emphasis on the advantages and disadvantages of each model. Although additional work is required, the data show that engineered mouse models have provided a significant contribution in our understanding of the pathogenesis of HCC. In particular, the mouse models have allowed the step-by-step analysis of the multiple stages of liver carcinogenesis with the identification of the underlying alterations in signal transduction pathways, cell cycle, and epigenetic and genetic mechanisms involved. Furthermore, the information obtained from these mouse models will help to design new, more specific and effective therapeutic approaches against human HCC.
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Calvisi, D.F., Factor, V.M., Thorgeirsson, S.S. (2010). Transgenic and Knockout Mouse Models of Liver Cancer. In: Wang, X., Grisham, J., Thorgeirsson, S. (eds) Molecular Genetics of Liver Neoplasia. Cancer Genetics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6082-5_9
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