- Endogenous retroviruses, once considered inert DNA fragments, can play a critical role in cancer survival and treatment effectiveness when reactivated.
- These ancient viruses make up about 8% of the human genome and have influenced evolution by shaping gene expression and contributing to the development of the placenta and immune response.
- A specific lineage of endogenous retrovirus, LTR10, that infected primates millions of years ago, is highly active in various types of cancer, including lung and colon cancer.
- Silence of this retrovirus in cancer cells has been found to turn off key genes promoting cancer development and growth, leading to more effective tumor treatments.
- Existing cancer therapies that target certain cellular pathways may work by disabling the switches turned on by these ancient viruses, potentially opening new avenues for personalized medicine.
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Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Pathology & Lab Medicine