Detection of MMTV-like LTR and LTR-env gene sequences in human breast cancer

  • Authors:
    • Yue Wang
    • Isabelle Pelisson
    • Stella M. Melana
    • James F. Holland
    • Beatriz G.-T. Pogo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1041
  • Pages: 1041-1044
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Abstract

We have previously reported, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of a 660 bp sequence homologous to the env gene of MMTV in 38% of the human breast cancers studied, but not in normal breasts nor in other tumors or tissues. We have now investigated the presence of MMTV-like LTR sequences in human breast cancer and normal breast tissue. Primers were selected to amplify a 630 bp sequence homologous to MMTV, but not to the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K10. This sequence was detected in 41.5% of the breast cancers and none of the normal breasts. A larger 1.2 kb LTR fragment was also amplified with high homology to MMTV. Finally, a 1.6 kb fragment containing env and LTR sequences was amplified, cloned and sequenced from breast cancer DNA. The human LTRs were highly homologous to MMTV contain enhancer and promoter elements, the glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) and the superantigen (Sag) sequences. Presence of functional sequences implies involvement in transcriptional regulation, whereas presence of an env-LTR sequence indicates contiguity within the genome of a potential provirus. Their presence in breast cancer DNA, but not in normal tissue, suggest an exogenous origin.

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May 2001
Volume 18 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang Y, Pelisson I, Melana SM, Holland JF and Pogo BG: Detection of MMTV-like LTR and LTR-env gene sequences in human breast cancer. Int J Oncol 18: 1041-1044, 2001
APA
Wang, Y., Pelisson, I., Melana, S.M., Holland, J.F., & Pogo, B.G. (2001). Detection of MMTV-like LTR and LTR-env gene sequences in human breast cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 18, 1041-1044. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1041
MLA
Wang, Y., Pelisson, I., Melana, S. M., Holland, J. F., Pogo, B. G."Detection of MMTV-like LTR and LTR-env gene sequences in human breast cancer". International Journal of Oncology 18.5 (2001): 1041-1044.
Chicago
Wang, Y., Pelisson, I., Melana, S. M., Holland, J. F., Pogo, B. G."Detection of MMTV-like LTR and LTR-env gene sequences in human breast cancer". International Journal of Oncology 18, no. 5 (2001): 1041-1044. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1041