Generation of a unique strain of multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc+/Min-FCCC) mice with significantly increased numbers of colorectal adenomas

The relevance of the Apc(+/Min) mouse model in the study of human colorectal cancer remains uncertain due to the predominance of small intestinal adenomas and few, if any, colorectal adenomas. A new strain of Apc(+/Min) mice (Apc(+/Min-FCCC)) with significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas has been generated and characterized. Male C57BU6J-Apc(+/Min) mice (the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) were crossed with wild-type (Apc(+/+)) C57BL/6J females from an independent colony at this institution (offspring = Apc+(/Min-FCCC)) and 233 animals were evaluated over 20 generations. In order to determine the contribution of genetics to the enhanced colorectal adenoma phenotype, breeding pairs (Apc(+/Min) male x wild type female C57BL/6J) were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory and offspring (Apc+(/Min-JAX)) were maintained in our facility under identical conditions (n=98). Animals were fed Purina Rodent chow (#5013) diet containing 5% fat. The entire intestinal tract was examined histopathologically in both strains. Both the Apc and Pla2g2a (candidate for Mom1) genes were sequenced and found to be identical for both the ApC(+/Min-FCCC) and Apc(+)/(Min-JAX) mouse strains. The multiplicity of colorectal adenomas in the Apc (+/Min-FCCC) mice was much higher than reported in the literature and significantly greater than the multiplicity of colorectal adenomas in Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice maintained in our facility (P = 0.01). Apc (+/Min-FCCC) had a significantly greater incidence of rectal prolapse (P = 0.02) and small intestinal adenocarcinomas (P = 0.001), and multiplicity of small intestinal adenocarcinomas (P = 0.001) compared to Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice. Male ApC(+/Min-FCCC) mice had significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas compared to female Apc (+/Min-FCCC) mice (P = 0.0002), as did male Apc+(/Min-JAX) mice vs. female Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice (P < 0.0001). These results allow us to conclude: (1) APc(+/Min-FCCC) mice are unique in that they develop significantly greater numbers of colorectal adenomas and small intestinal cancers, and a significantly greater incidence of small intestinal cancers and rectal prolapse than Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice. (2) This study represents the first report of a significant gender difference in multiplicity of colorectal adenomas. (3) Differences between Apc(+/Min-FCCC) and Apc(+/Min-JAX) mice in currently undefined genetic modifiers may contribute to the enhanced colorectal phenotype. (4) The ApC(+/Min-FCCC) Strain is highly suited for the investigation of colorectal neoplastic disease and chemoprevention studies. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.