Activation of Cre recombinase alone can induce complete tumor regression

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 10;9(9):e107589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107589. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The Cre/loxP system is a powerful tool for generating conditional genomic recombination and is often used to examine the mechanistic role of specific genes in tumorigenesis. However, Cre toxicity due to its non-specific endonuclease activity has been a concern. Here, we report that tamoxifen-mediated Cre activation in vivo induced the regression of primary lymphomas in p53-/- mice. Our findings illustrate that Cre activation alone can induce the regression of established tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Integrases / genetics*
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics*
  • Ubiquitin C / genetics
  • Ubiquitin C / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Ubiquitin C
  • Tamoxifen
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases