title: Mechanisms of tumor induction by human retroviruses.
abstract: Oncogenesis can be induced by chronic and acute RNA tumor viruses through a promoter/enhancer insertion mechanism and through a transforming protein coded by a viral oncogene (v-onc), respectively. A hypothetical trans-activating mechanism is invoked by retroviruses with trans-activating regulatory proteins. So far, in humans only HTLV-I has been firmly linked to a malignancy. The same virus is also implicated in slowly progressing neurological disorders. Except for transformation by viral oncogenes, these mechanisms give rise to monoclonal tumors.
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Bundesamt für Sera und Impfstoffe, Frankfurt/Main, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ferdinand
mesh_terms: D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D012328:RNA Viruses; D012190:Retroviridae; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*