Transformation Models for Characterization of Cancer Driver Genes / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

ABSTRACT

The development of cancer is a complex process. Although many genetic and epigenetic alterations are detected in cancer cells, only small proportion of these alterations may function as cancer drivers. Because it is difficult to directly characterize driver factors in human body, alternative research models have continuously been developed. In the early stage from 1915 to 1980s, genetic activation of proto-oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes were often characterized using various carcinogenicity tests, including animal tumor induction models, malignant transformation of normal human cells/tissues/organs cultured in vitro or transplanted into immuno-defected mice. Since 1990 to now, gene transfection and knockout technologies were frequently used to characterize cancer driver genes. Currently, 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture and organoid are also employed to test carcinogenicity of environmental factors and driver genes. In this review, we summarized the main models of malignant transformation and their advantages and disadvantages.