# A novel mouse model of testicular granulosa cell tumors

> **NIH NIH R03** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2020 · $72,685

## Abstract

Title: A novel mouse model of testicular granulosa cell tumors
PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite the relatively high 5-year survival rate of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) in stage I
patients, poor prognosis is associated with patients at advanced tumor stage, justifying the need
to study this type of poorly defined tumors. Of note, GCTs may also arise from the testis with
low incidence. Thus, animal models are useful to investigate the pathogenesis of this disease.
Overactivation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor 1 (TGFBR1) using Amhr2-Cre to
target mouse granulosa cells provokes the development of ovarian GCTs. It was found that
male mice develop testicular GCTs at an early age. The exciting phenotypic manifestation of
GCTs in the testes of these mice raised the question of how dysregulated TGFβ signaling
promotes testicular GCT formation. The central hypothesis is that dysregulation of TGFβ
signaling alters the differentiation program of Sertoli cells, promoting the transdifferentiation of
Sertoli cell to malignant granulosa cells characteristic of GCTs. This hypothesis is based on
compelling genetic evidence, and will be tested in a single aim by identifying mechanistic
underpinnings of testicular GCT development resulting from constitutive activation of TGFBR1.
A comprehensive approach combining transcriptomic and proteomic analyses will be utilized to
address the posed question. Results of this application are expected to provide a paradigm shift
for understanding gonadal tumorigenesis and reveal a novel link among growth factor signaling,
cell fate alteration, and oncogenesis. Therefore, completion of this proposal will have a
significant impact on the etiology of testicular GCTs. The findings have potential diagnostic and
therapeutic value for sex cord-stromal tumors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9879923
- **Project number:** 1R03CA235001-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Qinglei Li
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $72,685
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2019-12-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9879923

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9879923, A novel mouse model of testicular granulosa cell tumors (1R03CA235001-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9879923. Licensed CC0.

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