title: Human endogenous retrovirus K and cancer: Innocent bystander or tumorigenic accomplice?
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 role-a 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.
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ronan F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang-Johanning
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ambs
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.|HRB Clinical Research Facilities Galway & Dublin, National University of Ireland Galway and Trinity College Dublin, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Glynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Env; Gag; HERV-K; HERV-K activation; Np9; Rec; breast cancer; carcinogenesis; human endogenous retrovirus; immunomodulation; melanoma; oncogenesis; prostate cancer