Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas have a rather poor prognosis. The development of relevant model systems to unravel in vitro and in vivo the molecular mechanisms governing the resistance of these tumors to therapy, as well as to test novel drug combinations, is a clear priority for thyroid-focused research.Methods
Several novel cell lines were established from tumors developed by mice engineered to simultaneously express a loss-of-function Pten allele and an oncogenic Kras allele.Results
Similar to most poorly differentiated thyroid tumors, these cell lines are characterized by simultaneous activation of the PI3K and MAPK pathways, by the presence of wild-type, functional p53, and by the severe downregulation of thyroid differentiation markers, including sodium-iodide symporter (NIS). Further, they display a highly glycolytic phenotype. They can be grafted to syngeneic, immunocompetent hosts, and easily metastasize to the lungs.Conclusions
These mouse cell lines are a novel and invaluable tool that can be used to develop innovative therapeutic approaches to poorly differentiated carcinomas in a more physiological context than using xenografts of human cell lines in immunocompromised mice.
SUBMITTER: Dima M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3162646 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association 20110718 9
<h4>Background</h4>Poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas have a rather poor prognosis. The development of relevant model systems to unravel in vitro and in vivo the molecular mechanisms governing the resistance of these tumors to therapy, as well as to test novel drug combinations, is a clear priority for thyroid-focused research.<h4>Methods</h4>Several novel cell lines were established from tumors developed by mice engineered to simultaneously express a loss-of-function Pten a ...[more]