DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinoma and VX2-induced rabbit cancer as a model for human oral carcinogenesis

Abstract

In this article, we have described and compared the advantages and disadvantages of two potential animal cancer models (the hamster buccal pouch cancer model and the VX2-induced rabbit cancer model) for human squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa. Currently, no animal cancer model is perfectly applicable to human oral squamous cell carcinomas. This is because the hamster buccal pouch cancer model has a different etiology and genetic constitution compared with human oral carcinomas. In addition, the VX2-induced rabbit cancer model is not produced in situ and, consequently, its natural behavior is totally reliant on the location of transplantation. Nonetheless, with the use of these two animal cancer models together, researchers could evaluate different aspects of the cellular and molecular biological characteristics or assess potential novel treatment regimens for squamous cell carcinomas of the human oral mucosa.

Keywords::

• animal model
• DMBA
• hamster
• oral carcinogenesis
• rabbit
• squamous cell carcinoma
• VX2

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.