INFRAFRONTIER and Cancer Research

Mouse models are important tools in the study of cancer. Via its partners, INFRAFRONTIER offers various animal model-related resources and services to aid cancer research around the globe.

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the leading cause of death and one of the major contributors to premature mortality in the EU. In 2016, one quarter (26.0%, 1.3 million people) of the total number of deaths in Europe were due to cancer and it was predicted to kill 1.41 million in 2019.

The EC has taken a strong stand in the fight against cancer with the inception of its Europe Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission area for Horizon Europe framework beginning in 2021.

Mouse Models and Cancer Research

Mouse models are used in cancer research to explore the causality between cancer genes and carcinogenesis, and as models to develop and test novel therapies. Mouse models have become ideal models for precise individualized cancer therapy thanks to the advancements in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, patient xenograft implantation and microbiota studies.

INFRAFRONTIER Supporting Cancer Research

This page brings together INFRAFRONTIER’s endevours to aid cancer research. This includes the INFRAFRONTIER Cancer Resource that is intended to help cancer researchers find an EMMA strain suitable for their work. Here, users can browse through EMMA strains associated to more than 50 different cancer types. Additional information like phenotypic description from MGI and EMMA strain submitters is also accessible.

INFRAFRONTIER Cancer Resource

The INFRAFRONTIER Cancer Resource is intended to help cancer researchers find an EMMA strain suitable for their work. Users can browse through EMMA strains associated to more than 50 different cancer types. Additional information like phenotypic description from MGI and EMMA strain submitters is also accessible.

INFRAFRONTIER Cancer Services

Via the canSERV project, INFRAFRONTIER offers access to several cutting-edge cancer services as Open Calls. These services are offered by INFRAFRONTIER partners with world-leading expertise in cancer research and mouse models.

Manually-curated Cancer Mouse Models

Another important INFRAFRONTIER resource is the list of manually-curated disease models for cancer. The listed strains have been accurately and systematically curated and annotated, as they carry mutant alleles or transgenes and express phenotypes which precisely model particular cancer types, according to the original reports in the associated peer-reviewed publications.

Astrocytoma
Growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma
Prolactinoma
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Neurofibromatosis
Medulloblastoma
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Stomach cancer
Familial chronic myelocytic leukemia-like syndrome
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

NKI GEMM-ESC Archive

The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) has created a unique archive of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from validated genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) of cancer. Check it out here.

External Cancer Mouse Model Resources:

  • EurOPDX is the European Research Infrastructure on patient-derived xenografts. The EurOPDX Data Portal was launched as part of their EU-funded project. It is a user-friendly and efficient informatics tool to optimize access to-, and data searching of PDX models & their clinical, molecular, & pharmacological annotations. It is being populated by fully validated PDX models.
  • The Mouse Models of Human Cancer Database (MMHCdb) is a comprehensive, expertly curated resource of diverse mouse models of human cancer. It focuses on spontaneous and induced tumors in mice, genetically defined mouse models of cancer and Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) models.
INFRAFRONTIER® and European Mouse Mutant Archive - EMMA® are registered trademarks at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).