# GENETIC BASIS FOR SPONTANEOUS CANCER AND AGING

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 1987 · $17,702

## Abstract

Analysis of cancer in humans and highly inbred strains of animals has
established that several genetic states predispose to spontaneous
carcinogenesis and that incidence increases with advancing age.  Resulting
malignancies are also characterized by alterations in control of cellular
functions indicating that mechanisms controlling specific gene modulation
have been altered.  Cumulative evidence indicates that non-histone
chromosomal proteins (NHCP) control specific gene transcription,
alterations in which are reflected as cytosolic protein changes.  The
objective of this work is to identify relationships between known genetic
constitution, differential gene expression, and incidence of primary
hepatocellular carcinomas (PHC) that occur in aging populations of
recombinant inbred (RI) mice.  Also, correlations will be sought between
genetic constitution and differential gene expression.  Mice used in this
study consist of a series of 8 RI strains derived from the progenitor
strains C3H/HeN (male) and C57BL/6N (female) and their F1 hybrid B6C3.
These highly inbred progenitor strains vary drastically in spontaneous
incidence of PHC, genetic constitution, NHCP, and life span and exhibit
differential gene expression.  While genetic factors and aging influence
tumor incidence in C3H progenitor and F1 hybrid mice, genetic analysis was
limited since tumor incidence, a population parameter, cannot be evaluated
in individual mice from segregating F2 and back-cross generations.
Construction of recombinant inbred (RI) strains now allows a genetic
approach to spontaneous tumorigenesis.  Young, adult, and aging genetically
homozygous RI strains will be monitored for incidence of PHC and
characterized for 30 gene markers by starch, acrylamide, and cellulose
acetate electrophoretic methods and for distribution of hepatocyte and
tumoral non-histone chromosomal and cytoplasmic proteins by
high-resolution, two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis.  Genetic
composition and specific changes in non-histone chromosomal and cytosolic
proteins will be correlated with changes normally occurring in aging
populations.  The control of incidence of spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis
by a small number of genes (1 to 3) or its polygenic inductive nature will
be tested.  (S)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171230
- **Project number:** 3R01CA033305-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** S3GMKS8ELA16
- **Principal Investigator:** LEWIS V RODRIGUEZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $17,702
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1984-03-15 → 1987-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171230

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171230, GENETIC BASIS FOR SPONTANEOUS CANCER AND AGING (3R01CA033305-03S1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171230. Licensed CC0.

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