Abstract: This invention provides a genetically tractable in situ non-human animal model for hepatocellular carcinoma. The model is useful, inter alia, in understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer, in understanding the genetic alterations that lead to chemoresistance or poor prognosis, and in identifying and evaluating new therapies against hepatocellular carcinomas. The liver cancer model of this invention is made by altering hepatocytes to increase oncogene expression, to reduce tumor suppressor gene expression or both and by transplanting the resulting hepatocytes into a recipient non-human animal. This invention also relates to the use of RNA interference (RNAi) technology in vivo to efficiently identify genes associated with liver cancer, in particular those encoding tumor suppressors, by knocking out candidate genes using RNAi and observing whether tumors would develop.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of diagnosis, drug screening, and treatment based on the discovery that cIAP1 and Yap are co-amplified oncogenes that cooperate to contribute to oncogenesis and tumor maintenance.

Abstract: This invention provides a genetically tractable in situ non-human animal model for hepatocellular carcinoma. The model is useful, inter alia, in understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer, in understanding the genetic alterations that lead to chemoresistance or poor prognosis, and in identifying and evaluating new therapies against hepatocellular carcinomas. The liver cancer model of this invention is made by altering hepatocytes to increase oncogene expression, to reduce tumor suppressor gene expression or both and by transplanting the resulting hepatocytes into a recipient non-human animal. This invention also relates to the use of RNA interference (RNAi) technology in vivo to efficiently identify genes associated with liver cancer, in particular those encoding tumor suppressors, by knocking out candidate genes using RNAi and observing whether tumors would develop.