Insertional Oncogenesis by Non-Acute Retroviruses: Implications for Gene Therapy
Author Information
Author(s): Fan Hung, Johnson Chassidy
Primary Institution: University of California, Irvine
Hypothesis
How do non-acute retroviruses induce tumors through the activation of cellular proto-oncogenes?
Conclusion
Non-acute retroviruses can induce tumors by insertionally activating cellular proto-oncogenes, which poses significant risks in gene therapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-acute retroviruses do not carry oncogenes but can still induce tumors.
- Activation of proto-oncogenes can occur through viral DNA insertion.
- Technical advances have accelerated the discovery of new proto-oncogenes.
Takeaway
Some viruses can cause cancer by inserting their DNA into our genes, which can make those genes work too much and lead to tumors.
Methodology
The review summarizes various studies on non-acute retroviruses and their mechanisms of oncogenesis, including promoter insertion and enhancer activation.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the interpretation of data from animal studies when applied to human contexts.
Limitations
The review primarily focuses on animal models and may not fully translate to human cancers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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