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"Hit and run" transformation leading to carcinogenesis

J K McDougall1

  • 1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at Seattle, WA 98109, USA.

Developments in Biologicals
|January 5, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Herpesvirus DNA fragments can cause cells to become cancerous, even without lasting DNA presence. This "hit-and-run" transformation, observed in rodent cells, suggests a mutagenic mechanism for viral oncogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Subgenomic DNA fragments from herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) have demonstrated the ability to induce neoplastic transformation in rodent cells in vitro.
  • The transfected viral DNA is not permanently integrated into the host genome of transformed cells, and viral proteins are transiently expressed and undetectable in established cell lines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of 'hit-and-run' transformation induced by herpesvirus DNA fragments.
  • To explore the potential mutagenic properties of viral DNA fragments in cellular transformation.
  • To assess the applicability of these findings to human cells, beyond observations in rodent models.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro transfection of rodent cells with subgenomic fragments of HSV and CMV.
  • Analysis of DNA persistence and viral protein expression in transformed cell lines.
  • Evaluation of mutagenic potential of the transfected DNA fragments.

Main Results:

  • Transfected viral DNA fragments did not persist long-term in neoplastic rodent cells.
  • Viral proteins were transiently expressed and not detectable in established transformed cell lines.
  • Evidence suggests that the transforming DNA fragments possess mutagenic properties.

Conclusions:

  • The 'hit-and-run' transformation model provides a plausible explanation for neoplastic transformation induced by HSV and CMV DNA in vitro.
  • This mechanism, involving transient DNA presence and mutagenic effects, has been observed consistently across multiple laboratories for over two decades.
  • Further research is needed to confirm if these effects extend to human cells.

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