Animal models play a crucial role in preclinical research, providing a platform to investigate disease mechanisms, drug efficacy, and safety before human trials. Protheragen offers comprehensive services for developing various types of endometrial cancer animal models, leveraging advanced techniques and expertise to support preclinical research.
Overview of Endometrial Cancer Animal Models
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries, with a rising incidence rate that poses significant challenges to public health. The typical manifestation of endometrial cancer is irregular vaginal bleeding, and most patients are diagnosed in the early stage. However, advanced or metastatic endometrial cancer lacks effective treatments and has a poor prognosis. Animal models play a crucial role in studying their pathogenesis, advancing diagnostic methods, and developing new therapeutics.
Fig.1 Mouse xenograft models for preclinical endometrial cancer studies. (Yildiz M.,
et al., 2024)
Types of Endometrial Cancer Animal Models
| Animal Models of Endometrial Cancer (EC) |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Research Focus |
| Spontaneous |
No special treatment needed; cost-effective and convenient, no need for a sterile environment; maintains immune system integrity; represents the entire process of cancer development |
Long culture cycle; low occurrence rate and instability |
Study of risk factors; monitoring of development; therapeutic research; toxicology; hormone-induced carcinogenesis |
| Chemically Induced |
Histopathology similarity; high occurrence rate; straightforward operation |
Unclear genetic background; lengthy induction period |
Carcinogenesis from chemical exposure; carcinogenic molecular pathways; estrogen mechanism; integration with other models to address limitations |
| Genetically engineered |
Presence of an immune system; specific gene mutation |
Challenging and costly procedures; low tumor mutation load |
Molecular pathway mechanisms; novel molecular therapeutic targets |
| Xenograft |
Inexpensive; short culture cycle; predictable tumor growth; easy to monitor |
Immune deficiency; limited human similarity |
Drug efficacy and sensitivity evaluation; cancer biological characteristics; biomarkers and drug resistance mechanisms; immunotherapy research |
| Humanized |
Similar to the human immune system; beneficial for immunotherapy studies |
Technically complex; high cost; incomplete immune system reconstruction |
Tumor-immune system interactions; immunotherapy |
Our Services
Protheragen offers comprehensive services for developing various types of endometrial cancer animal models. Our team of experts can design and implement customized models based on your specific research needs. We provide support for model validation, ensuring that the models accurately reflect human EC biology.
Spontaneous Models
Protheragen excels in developing spontaneous models that leverage the natural occurrence of endometrial cancer in specific animal strains. These models offer a unique perspective on disease progression, closely mimicking the spontaneous development of tumors in humans. High-incidence rat strains, such as Han:Wistar, Donryu, DA/Han, and BDII/Han, have been extensively studied and are integral to our research.
Chemically Induced Models
Our chemically induced models utilize carcinogens, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), to initiate endometrial cancer. These models have been instrumental in understanding the role of chemical exposure in cancer development. Early-life exposure to DES significantly increases the incidence of EC in adolescence, providing valuable insights into the carcinogenic potential of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Humanized Models
Protheragen's humanized mouse models represent the pinnacle of preclinical research, incorporating functional human immune systems into immunodeficient animals. These models enable the study of tumor-immune system interactions and the evaluation of immunotherapies. By transplanting both human immune cells and tumor tissues, researchers can simulate the human tumor microenvironment more accurately, paving the way for personalized medicine approaches.
Protheragen's genetically modified mouse models (GMMs) represent a significant advancement in endometrial cancer research. These models allow for the precise manipulation of genes implicated in EC, closely mimicking human genetic alterations and signaling pathways. Our GMMs include modifications of PTEN, p53, KRAS, and ERBB2, among others. For instance, mice with endometrial-specific PTEN deletion serve as ideal models for studying type I EC, while p53-deficient models accurately reflect the progression of type II EC.
| Model Types |
Conditional Knockout Mice |
| Model Name |
Stk11-Flox Mice |
| Also Known As |
C57BL/6-Stk11tm(flox)1 |
| Detailed Description |
These mice possess loxP sequences that border Exons 3 through 6 of the Stk11 gene. When bred with a strain that expresses the Cre recombinase, this setup facilitates the conditional ablation of the Stk11 gene in a tissue-specific manner. |
| NCBI ID |
20869 |
| MGI ID |
1341870 |
| Gene Alias |
Lkb1, Par-4, R75140, AA408040 |
| Sales Status |
Repository live |
| Applications & Therapeutic Areas |
Endometrial Cancer; Tuberous Sclerosis |
| Ensembl ID |
ENSMUSG00000003068 |
| Pubmed |
Stk11 |
| Human Ortholog |
STK11 |
Case Study
Protheragen has recently established a VX2 endometrial cancer model in rabbits, marking a significant advancement in preclinical research. This model begins with the meticulous preparation of the VX2 cell line, ensuring optimal cell health prior to inoculation. Healthy female New Zealand White rabbits, within a specific weight range, are used, and they undergo a precise anesthesia protocol using sodium pentobarbital to facilitate tumor inoculation into the uterine myometrium. Post-surgery, the rabbits receive attentive care, including observation and necessary antibiotics, to ensure their well-being and the successful establishment of the tumor model.
Fig 2. Changes in tumor volume and weight after injection of VX2 tumor cells.
Protheragen understands that each research project is unique. Our solutions are tailored to meet the specific requirements of your study. We utilize the latest genetic engineering and transplantation techniques to develop high-quality animal models. Our comprehensive support includes model design, implementation, validation, and data analysis, ensuring the success of your research. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Yildiz, Merve, Andrea Romano, and Sofia Xanthoulea. "Murine Xenograft Models as Preclinical Tools in Endometrial Cancer Research." Cancers 16.23 (2024): 3994.
- Xue, Yang, et al. "Preclinical research models for endometrial cancer: development and selection of animal models." Frontiers in Oncology 15 (2025): 1512616.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
