Genetic analysis of colon cancer susceptibility in mice.

Mouse models may aid in the identification of genes involved in colon cancer. Our mating scheme involved mouse strains selected for maximum differences in susceptibility to DMH-induced colon tumors. Tumors were found in 40 of 122 progeny from a backcross to the resistant strain. We examined progeny animals for segregation of 177 genetic markers distributed at intervals of 5-30 cM on all mouse chromosomes. Multiple loci contribute to the phenotype, with significant linkage to a novel locus, Ccs1, between D12Mit5 and D12Mit6 on mouse Chr 12. Comparative maps suggest that the human homologue of Ccs1 is near FOS on human chromosome 14q.