New Mouse Model Aids Study of Human Bladder Cancer Progression and Gender-Specific Immunotherapy
Scientists at Uppsala University have developed a new mouse model to study human bladder cancer progression and immune-system activation. Funded by the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, and the European Social Fund, this model mimics human bladder cancer development and has been used to study proteomic profiles in blood and urine.
The model contains specific oncogenes and shows a high incidence of harmful mutations, allowing researchers to study tumour development and response to treatments in both males and females. Uppsala University scientists have employed single-cell sequencing to analyze gene expression changes in tumours as they progress. The model's immune system functions like a human's, and tumours grow in the right site and for the same reasons as in humans. The study, published in PLOS ONE, has revealed a distinct gender difference in early-stage bladder cancer and response to immunotherapy.
Future research aims to improve treatment strategies specifically adapted for men and women using this model and clinical material from biobanks. The model has been used to study proteomic profiles in blood and urine during tumour development and after muscle invasion, providing valuable insights into bladder cancer progression.
The new mouse model, developed by Uppsala University scientists, offers a promising tool for studying human bladder cancer progression and immune-system activation. With its ability to mimic human bladder cancer development and function like a human immune system, it has the potential to enhance our understanding of the disease and aid in the development of gender-specific treatment strategies.
