Analysis of a mouse model has several advantages. More information has been accumulated from mouse genetics than that of any other vertebrate. Gene functions can be studied in vivo. Analysis of tumor suppressor genes has often been facilitated by studies of tumor-suppressor deficient mice. Such examples are ERCC-1, Atm, p53, and XPA. dbc2-deficient mouse models can sometimes give the clearest evidence that a gene is a tumor suppressor. Moreover, if such mice develop tumors, they may provide vital animal and tissue models for human cancers that have deleted DBC2.

We understand the importance of mouse models but dbc2-deficient mice are not available yet. It is one of our current research goals.