The present invention provides a non-human animal IKK which shows fibrosis of tissue, since it lacks IKK gene in a myofibroblast- and/or smooth muscle cell-specific manner. Since the non-human animal shows pathology highly similar to scleroderma, it is extremely useful as an animal model of scleroderma.

Disclosed herein are combinatorial therapies for treating or preventing reoccurrence of cancer. The therapies involve inhibition of LIMK1 in conjunction with taxane therapy. Specifically exemplified herein is co-administration of a LIMK1 RNA interfering molecule along with administration of a taxane.

The invention relates to genetically engineered mouse models for multiple myeloma (MM) and their uses thereof for the development of multiple myeloma models as well as for the screening of compounds suitable for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Systems and methods to modulate the activation state of immune cells in vivo are described. The systems and methods can be used to transform immunosuppressive macrophages that support cancer growth and metastasis into highly activated tumoricidal macrophages.