Human Endogenous Retrovirus K in Cancer: A Potential Biomarker and Immunotherapeutic Target.
| Publication Type | Review |
| Authors | Curty G, Marston J, de Mulder Rougvie M, Leal F, Nixon D, Soares M |
| Journal | Viruses |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Date Published | 07/06/2020 |
| ISSN | 1999-4915 |
| Keywords | Endogenous Retroviruses, Immunotherapy, Neoplasms |
| Abstract | In diseases where epigenetic mechanisms are changed, such as cancer, many genes show altered gene expression and inhibited genes become activated. Human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) expression is usually inhibited in normal cells from healthy adults. In tumor cells, however, HERV-K mRNA expression has been frequently documented to increase. Importantly, HERV-K-derived proteins can act as tumor-specific antigens, a class of neoantigens, and induce immune responses in different types of cancer. In this review, we describe the function of the HERV-K HML-2 subtype in carcinogenesis as biomarkers, and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. |
| DOI | 10.3390/v12070726 |
| PubMed ID | 32640516 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC7412025 |