The Remarkable Legacy of the K6/ODC Mouse: Mechanisms of Polyamine-Promoted Tumorigenesis Revealed

April 2026 in “ Amino Acids ”

Susan K. Gilmour

K6/ODC mouse polyamines ornithine decarboxylase ODC hair follicle cells skin tumorigenesis epithelial cells tumor development tumor progression

Studysummary This study reviews prior research using transgenic K6/ODC mice and demonstrates that elevated polyamines in epithelial cells contribute significantly to skin tumor development and progression by stimulating proliferation, altering cell signaling and chromatin remodeling, and affecting immune functionality, amongst other mechanisms.

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research Bachmann–Bupp Syndrome and Treatment

July 2023 in “Developmental medicine and child neurology/Developmental medicine & child neurology”

This study found that patients with Bachmann-Bupp syndrome treated with DFMO showed improvements in hair growth, muscle tone, and development.

research Novel De Novo Pathogenic Variant in the ODC1 Gene in a Girl with Developmental Delay, Alopecia, and Dysmorphic Features

39 citations , September 2018 in “American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A”

This case report describes a 32-month-old girl with a newly identified pediatric disorder linked to a de novo mutation in the ODC1 gene, mirroring symptoms seen in a transgenic mouse model.

research Elevated Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity Promotes Skin Tumorigenesis by Stimulating the Recruitment of Bulge Stem Cells but Not via Toxic Polyamine Catabolic Metabolites

17 citations , July 2013 in “Amino Acids”

This study found that elevated epidermal ODC activity in transgenic mice promotes skin tumor development by recruiting bulge stem cells, rather than through reactive oxygen species generation by polyamine catabolic oxidases.

research A Keratin 15 Containing Stem Cell Population From the Hair Follicle Contributes to Squamous Papilloma Development in the Mouse

44 citations , March 2012 in “Molecular Carcinogenesis”

This study found that keratin 15 expressing cells from the hair follicle contribute to the development and long-term persistence of cutaneous papillomas in transgenic mice, with a subset showing the Ha-ras mutation.

research CD34 Expression by Hair Follicle Stem Cells Is Required for Skin Tumor Development in Mice

141 citations , May 2007 in “Cancer Research”

This study found that CD34 is necessary for TPA-induced activation of hair follicle stem cells and tumor formation in mice, with CD34 knockout mice showing delayed and reduced tumor development compared to wild-types.

research Stem Cells in the Hair Follicle Bulge Contribute to Wound Repair but Not to Homeostasis of the Epidermis

1279 citations , November 2005 in “Nature Medicine”

research Ornithine Decarboxylase as a Target for Chemoprevention of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Ptch1+/– Mice

65 citations , March 2004 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

In this study, overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase accelerated basal cell carcinoma in Ptch1+/– mice under UVB exposure, while its inhibition reduced tumor induction, suggesting potential chemoprevention strategies in humans.

research A Simple In Vivo System for Studying Epithelialization, Hair Follicle Formation, and Invasion Using Primary Epidermal Cells from Wild-Type and Transgenic Ornithine Decarboxylase-Overexpressing Mouse Skin

13 citations , December 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study demonstrated that the tracheal xenotransplant procedure is an effective technique for assessing the invasiveness of epidermal keratinocytes and studying factors affecting hair follicle formation.

research A Definitive Role of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Photocarcinogenesis

67 citations , September 2001 in “American Journal Of Pathology”

This study found that overexpression of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase in transgenic mice led to UVB-induced skin tumors, but this was prevented by the ODC inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine.

research K6/ODC Transgenic Mice as a Sensitive Model for Carcinogen Identification

57 citations , July 2000 in “Toxicology Letters”

This study found that the K6/ODC transgenic mouse model is highly sensitive to identifying genotoxic carcinogens, showing 100% concordance with traditional rodent bioassays.

research Co-Operation Between Follicular Ornithine Decarboxylase and v-Ha-ras Induces Spontaneous Papillomas and Malignant Conversion in Transgenic Skin

88 citations , August 1998 in “Carcinogenesis”

This study found that overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase and activated Ha-ras together led to a high rate of tumor development in a mouse model without additional carcinogens.

research Ornithine Decarboxylase Expression Leads to Translocation and Activation of Protein Kinase CK2 In Vivo

52 citations , May 1997 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

This study suggests that polyamines regulate CK2 enzyme activity and its subcellular distribution, as demonstrated in mouse models and cell cultures with elevated levels of ornithine decarboxylase.

research Modulation of Murine Hair Follicle Function by Alterations in Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity

71 citations , May 1996 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that overexpression of a mutated ornithine decarboxylase transgene in mice led to complete hair loss, which could be prevented or reversed with an ODC inhibitor.

research Heterogeneity of Ornithine Decarboxylase Expression in 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate-Treated Mouse Skin and in Epidermal Tumors

37 citations , January 1986 in “Carcinogenesis”

This study found that TPA treatment transiently induces high levels of ODC in mouse epidermal cells, particularly around hair follicles, with localization reduced by retinoic acid or cycloheximide pretreatment.