Colonoscopy as a tool for evaluating colorectal tumor development in a mouse model

A sporadic colon cancer mouse model with conditional mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) is biologically relevant for human colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to determine the utility and limitations of colonoscopy for evaluating colon tumors in this mouse model. We compared the estimates of location, size, and miss rate of tumors detected during colonoscopy with those determined by necropsy. Sixty-six CPC-Apc mice originating from Apc F/wt mice harbor a Cdx2-Cre transgene in which colorectal tumorigenesis was driven by Apc allelic loss. The sensitivity and specificity of colonoscopy for detecting tumors in a mouse CRC model were investigated. A strong positive correlation was found between tumor location as measured by colonoscopy and the location determined by necropsy (p