title: Retroviruses and cancer.
abstract: All RNA viruses that cause cancer under natural conditions fall into the "retro" category, meaning that the first step in their replication is the "reverse transcription" of RNA into DNA. This peculiarity of their biologic behavior has helped explain other intriguing features of these viruses and opened new directions for future research into the role of viruses in altering the infected cell's genetic material and in oncogenesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses; D012328:RNA Viruses; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase