The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) encodes a protein that has anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, and antitumor properties. It plays a pivotal role in antitumorigenesis induced by chemopreventive compounds. Transgenic mice expressing human NAG-1 have been developed by the NIH investigator and collaborator.

The NAG-1 transgenic mice are shown to develop few tumors in response to carcinogenic stimuli than wild type mice. They are also leaner with less fat than their wild type counterparts. As such, these mice can be used to investigate the development of cancers, and they could be of value in studying obesity and the relationship to cancer risk, and inflammation.