Induction of colorectal cancer in mice and histomorphometric evaluation of tumors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) originates from the epithelial cells lining the colon or rectum of the gastrointestinal tract and represents the third most common form of cancer worldwide. CRC is frequently associated with Colitis Ulcerosa or Crohn's Disease demonstrating the tumor-promoting role of inflammation. Colorectal tumor cells establish heterotypic interactions with inflammatory cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor stroma that support tumor angiogenesis and are essential for tumor progression. Therefore, establishment of suitable mouse models mimicking the inflammatory etiology of CRC is important. Here we describe methods to induce CRC in mice, to quantify tumor parameters (multiplicity, tumor load, mean tumor size), and to analyze the cellular composition of the CRC tumor stroma.