Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
Volume 137, Issue 6, Pages 1249-1257Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29003
Keywords
human endogenous retrovirus; HERV-K; carcinogenesis; melanoma; breast cancer; prostate cancer; HERV-K activation; oncogenesis; immunomodulation; Env; Gag; Np9; Rec
Categories
Funding
- Galway University Foundation [RNR1008]
- Health Research Board of Ireland Clinical Research Facility, Galway [RSU004]
- Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program [BC113114]
- Breast Cancer Campaign UK [2013MayPR019]
- Irish Cancer Society [PCT13MCD]
- Breast Cancer Campaign [2013MayPR019] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
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 rolea 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.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available