Genetically engineered or transgenic rats exhibiting a cancer phenotype due to a disruption of germline tumor suppressor genes
AssigneeTransposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsEric M. Ostertag, John Stuart Crawford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to the engineering of animal cells, preferably mammalian, more preferably rat, that are deficient due to the disruption of tumor suppressor gene(s) or gene product(s). In another aspect, the invention relates to genetically modified rats, as well as the descendants and ancestors of such animals, which are animal models of human cancer and methods of their use.
Claims34
A genetically modified rat, or progeny of the rat, wherein the rat or its progeny comprise in at least some of its cells a genome comprising a disruption of one or more tumor suppressor genes that results in a misexpression of the one or more tumor suppressor genes, wherein the rat or its progeny exhibits a cancer phenotype.
A genetically engineered rat, or progeny of the rat, wherein the rat or its progeny comprise in at least some of its cells a genome comprising a disruption of one or more tumor suppressor genes that results in the rat or its progeny exhibiting a cancer phenotype.
A screening method for identifying a compound useful for treating a hyperproliferative condition, comprising
- (a) providing an assay system comprising a model system comprising a genetically modified rat or progeny of the rat, wherein the rat or its progeny comprise in at least some its cells a genome comprising a disruption of one or more tumor suppressor genes, wherein the rat or its progeny exhibits a cancer phenotype;
- (b) contacting the model system with a candidate test agent;
- and
- (c) detecting a phenotypic change in the model system that indicates that the tumor suppressor function is restored when compared relative to wild-type cells.
A screening method for identifying a compound useful for treating a hyperproliferative condition, comprising (a) providing an assay system comprising a model system comprising a genetically engineered rat or progeny of the rat, wherein the rat or its progeny comprise in at least some of its cells a genome comprising a disruption of one or more tumor suppressor gene that causes a cancer phenotype in said genetically modified rat;
- (b) contacting the model system with a candidate test agent;
- and
- (c) detecting a change in tumor suppressor polypeptide expression or activity between the presence and absence of the candidate test agent indicates the presence of a candidate modulating agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.