To further elucidate and mimic the features of human astrocytoma, we developed a mouse model employing mature primary astrocytes deficient for p53 that overexpress c-Myc, myristoylated (myr), i.e. constitutively active Akt or both c-Myc and myr-Akt, respectively. Here, MYC is linked to astrocytoma (excluding glioblastoma).