Mouse mammary tumor virus-like env sequences in human breast cancer

作者：Mok Myth T S^*; Lawson James S; Iacopetta Barry J; Whitaker Noel J

来源：International Journal of Cancer, 2008, 122(12): 2864-2870.

DOI：10.1002/ijc.23372

• mouse mammary tumor virus
• human breast cancer

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has long been known as a causal agent of breast cancer in mice. To date, varied MMTV-like envelope gene (env) sequences have been identified in up to 74% of human breast cancers. However, the role and origin of these MMTV-like sequences in human breast cancer remain uncertain. Our study was initiated to study the integration of MMTV-like env sequences in human breast cancer. PCR screening has identified 28 (56%) Australian breast cancer specimens and 7 (87.5%) human breast cancer cell lines to be positive for MMTV-like env sequence. In the MCF-7 genome, a fragment containing an MMTV-like env sequence of similar to 1.9 kb plus a downstream rodent-like sequence of similar to 200 bp was found to be integrated into a bacterial-like beta-lactamase sequence by insertional mutagenesis. The identified MMTV-rodent fragment is present in some MCF-7 sublines but absent in the screened specimens and other cell lines. Sporadic mutations found in this fragment indicate it has multiple copies in the MCF-7 genome. Sequence analysis has identified a novel ORF of similar to 1.6 kb which is 94-99% identical to MMTV env genes. RT-PCR was performed on the MCF-7 cDNA but no MMTV-Iike env transcript was detected. This is the first report to reveal the locus of MMTV-Iike env sequence in human cells. The MMTV-like env sequence was shown to be distinct from the human endogenous retroviral sequences and is closely related to rodents.

• 出版日期2008-6-15