title: Expression of human endogenous retrovirus env genes in the blood of breast cancer patients.
abstract: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) env proteins have been recently reported to be significantly up-regulated in certain cancers. Specifically, mRNA and protein levels of HERV-K (HML-2) are up-regulated in the blood plasma or serum of breast cancer patients. Here, we collected blood samples of 49 breast cancer patients and analyzed mRNA expressions of various HERVs env genes including HERV-R, HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-P by real-time PCR. The expression of env genes were significantly increased in the blood of primary breast cancer patients but were decreased in patients undergoing chemotherapy to a similar level with benign patients. When we compared the group currently undergoing chemotherapy and those patients undergoing chemotherapy simultaneously with radiotherapy, HERVs env genes were reduced more in the chemotherapy only group, suggesting that chemotherapy is more effective in reducing HERV env gene expression than is radiotherapy. Among chemotherapy groups, HERV env gene expression was the lowest in the taxotere- or taxol-treated group, suggesting that taxotere and taxol can reduce HERVs env expression. These data suggest the potential to use HERVs env genes as a diagnosis marker for primary breast cancer, and further studies are needed to identify the mechanism and physiological significance of the reduction of HERV env gene expression during chemotherapy.
authors: Department of Surgery, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea. lovebreast@naver.com.
authors: Dong-Won
authors: DW
authors: Rhyu
authors: Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea. yunjung0531@hanmail.net.
authors: Yun-Jeong
authors: YJ
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea. sunnyock@kosin.ac.kr.
authors: Mee-Sun
authors: MS
authors: Ock
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea. yjw1947@hanmail.net.
authors: Jung-Woo
authors: JW
authors: Eo
authors: Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 614-052, Korea. choiyh@deu.ac.kr.
authors: Yung-Hyun
authors: YH
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea. wjkim@chungbuk.ac.kr.
authors: Wun-Jae
authors: WJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Biological Science, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Korea. shleem@dau.ac.kr.
authors: Sun-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Leem
authors: Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medicine Sciences, Busan 619-953, Korea. jmyi@dirams.re.kr.
authors: Joo-Mi
authors: JM
authors: Yi
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea. khs307@pusan.ac.kr.
authors: Heui-Soo
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea. hcha@kosin.ac.kr.
authors: Hee-Jae
authors: HJ
authors: Cha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000821:virology*; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D015686:Gene Products, env; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017239:Paclitaxel