Abstract 5094: The Jackson Laboratory Repository: Mouse strains relevant to human cancer
Authors: Deborah Boswell, Stephen Rockwood, Cathleen Lutz, The JAX Repository Team
Journal: Cancer Research (2018)

Abstract The Jackson Laboratory Mouse Repository continues to expand its diverse collection of mutant mouse strains, many of which have preclinical applications related to human cancer. Over 11,000 Repository mouse lines are accessible to the scientific community, each described and easily found on the JAX website. Among the hundreds of new strains made available annually by the Repository are mice from NIH-funded mouse projects and programs (SMSR, KOMP, MMRRC). A subset of strains relevant to cancer research is highlighted here. A number of mouse lines have been designed to be models for studying specific types of cancers. Recent additions include a model for small cell lung cancer carrying floxed alleles of Rb1 and Trp53 and a Cre recombinase regulatable Myc&amp;lt;T58A&amp;gt; allele; a conditional strain, in which exon 15 of Apc is floxed, useful for generating models of ovarian and colorectal cancer; and a double floxed Wwtr1 Yap1 line with applications in studies of the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in tumorigenesis and tumor suppression. The set of engraftment models continues to grow. Typically immunodeficient NSG-based (but not exclusively) strains allow xenotransplantation of human tissues, cells or tumors. The set of research tool strains encompassing Cre-lox, Tet-On/-Off and CRISPR cas9 technologies also continues to grow as does the set of reporter strains (fluorescent protein, luciferase, lacZ, etc.), enabling researchers to customize models for particular applications. A transgenic strain expressing Cre recombinase in gastric parietal cells has applications in gastric cancer research. A reporter line that expresses JAG1 and luciferase in Cre-expressing tissues can be used to study prostate cancer. Other resources enabling cancer research at JAX include the JAX patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cancer model resource offering PDX tumor-bearing NSG mice as a preclinical platform for efficacy studies. The Onco-Hu model platform can be used for immunotherapy engraftment studies. The Oncology Therapeutic Area web page is tailored to showcase JAX strains and resources related to cancer research. Repository strains are tested in our comprehensive quality control program to confirm expected mutation identity and genetic background, as well as to screen for the presence of contaminating alleles (GFP, cre, lacZ, etc.). Mice harboring unexpected, often overlooked, genetically engineered alleles can dramatically confound reproducibility between labs. In addition, the JAX Reproductive Sciences group performs cryopreservation to safeguard each strain and can rapidly create cohorts for studies using IVF technology. Researchers wishing to have strains considered for inclusion in the Repository can submit them on the JAX website at www.jax.org/donate-a-mouse. The Jackson Laboratory Repository is supported by the NIH, The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and several private charitable foundations. Citation Format: Deborah Boswell, Stephen Rockwood, Cathleen Lutz, The JAX Repository Team. The Jackson Laboratory Repository: Mouse strains relevant to human cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5094.