1. ¹Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
2. ²Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: Dr DM Langenau, Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, One Blackfan Circle, Karp 7, Boston, MA 2115, USA. E-mail: dlangenau@enders.tch.harvard.edu

³These authors contributed equally to work presented.

Received 2 October 2007; Revised 16 January 2008; Accepted 1 February 2008; Published online 17 March 2008.

Abstract

The zebrafish has emerged as a powerful genetic model of cancer, but has been limited by the use of stable transgenic approaches to induce disease. Here, a co-injection strategy is described that capitalizes on both the numbers of embryos that can be microinjected and the ability of transgenes to segregate together and exert synergistic effects in forming tumors. Using this mosaic transgenic approach, gene pathways involved in tumor initiation and radiation sensitivity have been identified.