Tumours in mice - an example of 'refinement'

Induction of tumours in mice is a common technique used in the investigation of new therapies for the treatment of cancer.

One of our accredited research establishments has investigated the published techniques and has been able to implement a refinement in the form of an earlier endpoint in mice undergoing xenotransplantation (transplantation of organs, tissues or cells between species) and tumour development.

Compared with the methods described in similar studies reported in the literature, satisfactory experimental outcomes have been achieved with smaller tumours, enabling mice to be euthanased sooner after treatment, thus significantly reducing the impact of the procedure on the animals.