Publication

Human endogenous retrovirus k and cancer: innocent bystander or tumorigenic accomplice?

Downey, Ronan F.
; 
Sullivan, Francis J.
; 
Wang-Johanning, Feng
; 
Ambs, Stefan
; 
Giles, Francis J.
; 
Glynn, Sharon A.
Identifiers
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/11248
https://doi.org/10.13025/27659
Repository DOI
10.1002/ijc.29003
Publication Date
2014-06-17
Keywords
human endogenous retrovirus, herv-k, carcinogenesis, melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, herv-k activation, oncogenesis, immunomodulation, env, gag, np9, rec, human-breast-cancer, melanoma-cell lines, zinc-finger protein, herv-k, envelope protein, insertional polymorphisms, prostate-cancer, nitric-oxide, adoptive immunotherapy, molecular-mechanisms
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Article
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Citation
Downey, Ronan F. Sullivan, Francis J.; Wang-Johanning, Feng; Ambs, Stefan; Giles, Francis J.; Glynn, Sharon A. (2014). Human endogenous retrovirus k and cancer: innocent bystander or tumorigenic accomplice?. International Journal of Cancer 137 (6), 1249-1257
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 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.
Funder
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher DOI
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland
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Externally hosted open access publications with University of Galway authors (2)