Endogenous retroviruses and cancer

Ruprecht K, K Ruprecht, J Mayer, Mayer J, Sauter M, M Sauter, Roemer K, K Roemer, N Mueller-Lantzsch, Mueller-Lantzsch N
Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2008 · vol. 65(21) , pp. 3366–82 · doi:10.1007/s00018-008-8496-1 · PMID:18818873 · PMC11131668
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This review examines the role of human endogenous retroviruses in tumorigenesis, highlighting evidence from animal models that they may drive malignant transformation or tumor growth through mechanisms like insertional mutagenesis.

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This review examines the role of endogenous retroviruses in tumorigenesis, focusing on human ERVs and their potential involvement in cancer development. The authors discuss evidence from animal models suggesting that these viral sequences may contribute to malignant transformation through mechanisms such as insertional mutagenesis or by interfering with tumor immunosurveillance. While data indicate a possible link between HERVs and specific malignancies like germ cell tumors and melanoma, the paper notes that their exact contributions to human cancer pathogenesis require further elucidation. This paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

The genomes of vertebrates contain sequences that are similar to present-day exogenous retroviruses. Such sequences, called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), have resulted from ancestral germ line infections by exogenous retroviruses which have thereafter been transmitted in a Mendelian fashion. By analogy to exogenous tumorigenic retroviruses, ERVs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer. Cumulative evidence from animal models indicates that ERVs may participate in the process of malignant transformation or promote tumor growth, e.g. through insertional mutagenesis or via counteracting tumor immunosurveillance. Here, we review the role of ERVs in tumorigenesis with focus on human ERVs (HERVs) in human cancer. Although available data suggest a potential role of HERVs in human cancers, in particular germ cell tumors, the contributions of HERVs to human tumorigenesis warrant further elucidation. (Part of a multi-author review).
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Abstract. The genomes of vertebrates contain sequences that are similar to present-day exogenous retroviruses. Such sequences, called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), have resulted from ancestral germ line infections by exogenous retroviruses which have thereafter been transmitted in a Mendelian fashion. By analogy to exogenous tumorigenic retroviruses, ERVs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer. Cumulative evidence from animal models indicates that ERVs may participate in the process of malignant transformation or promote tumor growth, e.g. through insertional mutagenesis or via counteracting tumor immunosurveillance. Here, we review the role of ERVs in tumorigenesis with focus on human ERVs (HERVs) in human cancer. Although available data suggest a potential role of HERVs in human cancers, in particular germ cell tumors, the contributions of HERVs to human tumorigenesis warrant further elucidation. (Part of a Multi-author Review) Keywords. Human endogenous retrovirus, cancer, tumorigenesis, germ cell tumor, melanoma

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MeSH descriptors

Cell Transformation, Viral Endogenous Retroviruses Host-Pathogen Interactions Neoplasms Retroviridae Infections Tumor Virus Infections Animals Cocarcinogenesis Endogenous Retroviruses Endogenous Retroviruses Female Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic Gene Expression Regulation, Viral Host-Pathogen Interactions Host-Pathogen Interactions Host-Pathogen Interactions Humans Immunologic Surveillance Male Mammals

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