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Inducible Loss of One Apc Allele in Lrig1-Expressing Progenitor Cells Results in Multiple Distal Colonic Tumors with Features of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

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AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology

Published online on

Abstract

Individuals with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) harbor a germline mutation in APC. The major clinical manifestation is development of multiple colonic tumors at a young age due to stochastic loss of the remaining APC allele. Extra-colonic features may occur, including periampullary tumors, gastric abnormalities, and congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE). The objective of this study was to develop a mouse model that simulates these features of FAP. To accomplish this, we combined our Lrig1-CreERT2/+ mice with Apcfl/+ mice, eliminated one copy of Apc in Lrig1+ progenitor cells with tamoxifen injection and monitored tumor formation in the colon by colonoscopy and positron emission tomography (PET). Initial loss of one Apc allele in Lrig1+ cells results in a predictable pattern of preneoplastic changes, culminating in multiple distal colonic tumors within 50 days of induction, as well as the extra-colonic manifestations of FAP mentioned above. We show that tumor formation can be monitored by noninvasive PET imaging. This inducible stem cell-driven model recapitulates features of FAP and offers a tractable platform to monitor therapeutic interventions over time by colonoscopy and non-invasive imaging.