Prostate, breast and gynecological cancer markers RAK with homology to HIV-1.
Breast and gynecological cancer-associated antigens RAK p120, p42 and p25 exhibit molecular, immunological and genetic homology to HIV-1 proteins. Normal tissues, including the majority of tissues adjacent to cancer, do not express these unique cancer markers. Antigens RAK are now detected in 100% of prostate cancer and in the majority of prostate benign hyperplasia (BPH) cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with HIV-1 gp41-derived primers revealed prostate cancer-associated DNA fragments of similar size (140 bp) as in HIV-1 genome. Ninety-five percent of BPH samples obtained from prostate cancer patients tested PCR-positive. For comparison, only 61.9% of BPH samples obtained from cancer-free patients tested PCR-positive. The DNA fragments amplified in prostate cancer and in BPH showed more than 90% homology to the HIV-1 gene for gp41. The obtained results strongly suggest that a retrovirus related to HIV-1 may be associated with cancers of the reproductive system.
Rakowicz-Szulczynska
E M
EM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska, Omaha 68198-3255, USA.
Jackson
B
B
Snyder
W
W
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715594:CBX5 protein, human; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C092830:FRK protein, human