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

The study demonstrated that K6/ODC transgenic mice, which overexpress ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in hair follicle keratinocytes, served as a sensitive model for identifying genotoxic carcinogens. The model showed 100% concordance with traditional 2-year rodent bioassays when tested with 10 known carcinogens or noncarcinogens. Notably, it successfully identified human carcinogens and demonstrated tumor development at low doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). This model offered advantages such as shorter test times and fewer animals, making it a promising tool for carcinogen identification and chemical risk assessment.