Abstract
Harbored as relics of ancient germline infections, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) now constitute up to 8% of our genome. A proportion of this sequence has been co-opted for molecular and cellular processes, beneficial to human physiology, such as the fusogenic activity of the envelope protein, a vital component of placentogenesis. However, the discovery of high levels of HERV-K mRNA and protein and even virions in a wide array of cancers has revealed that HERV-K may be playing a more sinister role - a role as an etiological agent in cancer itself. Whether the presence of this retroviral material is simply an epiphenomenon, or an actual causative factor, is a hotly debated topic. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding HERV-K and cancer and attempt to outline the potential mechanisms by which HERV-K could be involved in the onset and promotion of carcinogenesis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1249-1257 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | International Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 137 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Env
- Gag
- HERV-K
- HERV-K activation
- Np9
- Rec
- breast cancer
- carcinogenesis
- human endogenous retrovirus
- immunomodulation
- melanoma
- oncogenesis
- prostate cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research