A History of Cancer Research: Retroviral Insertional Mutagenesis

Early work on cancer showed that some retroviruses contain oncogenes that promote tumorigenesis, but how viruses that do not contain oncogenes could cause cancer was unclear. A series of studies in the 1980s uncovered another mechanism: insertional mutagenesis in which viral sequences drove aberrant expression of endogenous cellular proto-oncogenes. In this excerpt from his forthcoming book on the history of cancer research, Joe Lipsick looks back at these discoveries, how the work led to identification of new oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and the perils of the phenomenon for early gene therapy.

Automated summary

Early research on cancer discovered that some retroviruses contain oncogenes that promote tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism by which viruses without oncogenes could cause cancer remained unclear. In the 1980s, studies uncovered insertional mutagenesis as another mechanism, where viral sequences drove abnormal expression of endogenous cellular proto-oncogenes. Joe Lipsick's forthcoming book on the history of cancer research explores these discoveries, their implications in identifying new oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and the dangers they posed for early gene therapy.