A transgenic mouse model for colorectal cancer, pulmonary emphysema or cardiomyopathy comprises a transgenic mouse that produces suboptimal levels of latent transforming growth factor .beta. binding protein 4 (LTBP-4). The transgenic mouse includes a mutation resulting in homozygous disruption of both endogenous alleles of a gene encoding LTBP-4, and develops colorectal cancer, pulmonary emphysema or cardiomyopathy.