Int. J. Dev. Biol. 42: 995 - 1002 (1998)

Vol 42, Issue 7

Special Issue: Stem Cells and Transgenesis

Angiogenesis and apoptosis are cellular parameters of neoplastic progression in transgenic mouse models of tumorigenesis

Published: 1 October 1998

G Bergers, D Hanahan and L M Coussens

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Hormone Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0534, USA.

Abstract

The epidemiology and histopathology of human cancers and studies of animal models of tumorigenesis have led to a widely-accepted notion that multiple genetic and epigenetic changes have to accrue for the successful development of a malignant phenotype. Tumor growth and expansion requires an ability not only to proliferate, but also to down-modulate cell death (apoptosis) and activate angiogenesis to produce a tumor neovasculature. This review will describe the interplay between apoptosis and proliferation, as well as the characteristics of the angiogenic phenotype in two transgenic mouse models of multi-step tumorigenesis, namely, pancreatic islet cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin.