Application of the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model for pre-clinical therapeutic studies.

BACKGROUND: The suitability of (C57BL/6 TRAMP x C57BL/6)F1 transgenic (TRAMP+) mice with well- to moderately-differentiated prostate cancer (PCa) was assessed for pre-clinical therapeutic studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TRAMP+ and TRAMP- mice were assessed for variability in genitourinary tract weight, seminal vesicle weight, prostate weight/volume and histopathology. Time-points included the reported ages of average tumour onset (approximately 25 weeks) and PCa-induced death (approximately 33 weeks). RESULTS: Seventy % of TRAMP+ mice aged 25-33 weeks had well- to moderately-differentiated PCa. At 25-28 weeks, the mean genitourinary tract weight was 2X greater and the mean prostate weight/volume was 1.5X more in TRAMP+ than in TRAMP- mice, respectively. Prostate weight/volume showed significant increases (p < 0.0001) by 2X and 3X, respectively by 31-33 weeks of age. CONCLUSION: The window for using the TRAMP model successfully for pre-clinical experimentation is 25-33 weeks provided that mice with poorly-differentiated PCa showing a large tumour burden are excluded.