The key advantages of this model are 1) these mice do not require whole body irradiation prior to tumour cell implantation 2) there is widespread skeletal involvement from a single inoculation site 3) there is no evidence of extramedullary involvement as shown by CD138 staining and histology 4) results are highly reproducible 5) the model culminates in an observable clinical endpoint i.e. hind limb paralysis. This evidence concerns the gene SDC1 and neoplasm.