Expression profiling in a genetically defined mouse model of oral-esophageal dysplasia and cancer

Introduction: The development and characterization of a genetic model of oral-esophageal squamous cell cancer is important in understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of squamous carcinogenesis. Cyclin D1 overexpression and p53 mutations are the most common genetic events in human oral/esophageal squamous cell cancer. We established a mouse model in which we demonstrate that tissue specific cyclin D1 overexpression and p53 inactivation cooperate to induce a rapid progression of dysplasia and invasive cancer specific to oral-esophageal epithelium. While abrogation of the pRb and p53 pathways is necessary…