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. 2017 Oct 13;8:146. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00146

Table 1.

Examples of animal models of melanoma, and some of their advantages/disadvantages to explore melanomagenesis in human.

Species Advantages Disadvantages
Mouse Genetic manipulation possible Late onset
Different genetic backgrounds available Low incidence
Easy breeding and handling No spontaneous melanoma, genetic modifications needed
Vast genetic and genomic resources Melanocytes in dermis
Many examples of molecular pathways dissection
Pig Cutaneous melanoma Major susceptibility genes identified in human are not predisposing in pigs
Early onset of multiple tumors Early onset and UV-independent, thus not reflecting a large part of human cases occurring in the elderly, on sun-damaged skin
No environmental effect Cell biology tools are limited (antibodies for example)
Same inheritance as humans
Common histological and clinical features with human melanoma, including metastatic invasion
Spontaneous and complete regression
Melanocytes on the basal layer of the epidermis
Dog Several possible clinical types (mucosal, cutaneous, acral, uveal) Often benign (except melanomas from the oral cavity)
Veterinary records Cell biology tools are limited (antibodies for example)
Anti-cancer treatments and clinical trials Genetic basis remains poorly described
Shared environment with human
Somatic mutations similar to human ones
Breed genetic structure should facilitate association analysis
Horse Presence of nevi and melanomas Correspond to rare melanomas in human
Dermal melanomas can eventually metastasize Late metastatic evolution in gray horses
The genetic basis of melanoma development in gray horses is partly known
Activation of ERK pathway, as seen in human