Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Recreating Melanoma Complexity with Patient-Derived Organoids for Immunotherapy Evaluation
05:33

Author Spotlight: Recreating Melanoma Complexity with Patient-Derived Organoids for Immunotherapy Evaluation

Published on: September 6, 2024

2.3K

Deregulation of Retroelements as an Emerging Therapeutic Opportunity in Cancer

Charles A Ishak1, Marie Classon2, Daniel D De Carvalho3

  • 1Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.

Trends in Cancer
|August 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Repetitive elements in the human genome are normally silenced but become active in cancer, potentially offering a new target for cancer therapies. Understanding this mechanism could lead to novel treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Repetitive elements constitute nearly half of the human genome and are crucial for genome stability.
  • Their aberrant activation in cancer is linked to decreased DNA methylation and inactivation of tumor suppressor proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of repetitive element dysregulation in cancer development.
  • To explore the potential of targeting these elements for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent discoveries in genomics, epigenetics, and cancer biology.
  • Analysis of the interplay between repetitive elements, DNA methylation, and tumor suppressor proteins.

Main Results:

  • Inappropriate activation of repetitive elements is a hallmark of cancer, driven by epigenetic alterations.
  • Elevated expression of repetitive elements can enhance responses to cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Deregulation of repetitive elements contributes to oncogenesis.
  • Targeting misexpressed repetitive elements represents a potential therapeutic vulnerability in cancer.
Keywords:
endogenous retrovirusesimmunotherapyrepetitive elementsviral mimicry

More Related Videos

In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer07:46

In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer

Published on: August 17, 2010

34.6K
Author Spotlight: Liujunzi Decoction as a Traditional Chinese Treatment for Coloproctitis Cancer06:24

Author Spotlight: Liujunzi Decoction as a Traditional Chinese Treatment for Coloproctitis Cancer

Published on: October 13, 2023

1.7K

Related Concept Videos

Emerging Adulthood01:27

Emerging Adulthood

Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
700
Introduction Cardiac Emergencies01:30

Introduction Cardiac Emergencies

Cardiac emergencies are critical situations involving the heart that require immediate medical intervention to prevent severe complications or death. These emergencies often arise from underlying heart conditions that impair the heart's ability to function correctly.Types of Cardiac EmergenciesThe most common types of cardiac emergencies include Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrest, and heart failure.Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)...
374
Therapeutic Index01:13

Therapeutic Index

The therapeutic index of a drug is a key parameter in pharmacology that quantifies the relative safety of a drug by calculating the ratio between the dose that causes toxicity in half the population (50%) to the dose that proves to be effective for half the population (50%). It provides a spectrum of doses for a particular drug ranging from effective to potentially toxic. To illustrate, consider an anticoagulant agent like warfarin. It possesses a narrow window within its therapeutic index to...
6.9K
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response01:29

Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is essential for risk identification, action prioritization, and resource optimization in critical situations like flooding and earthquakes. By integrating spatial and demographic data, GIS provides a comprehensive framework for emergency response.GIS integrates data layers, like rainfall intensity, topography, elevation profiles, and river levels, to model high-risk flood zones. These layers assess areas susceptible to flooding based on their...
529
Therapeutic Communication01:30

Therapeutic Communication

Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
8.5K
Cholinergic Antagonists: Therapeutic Uses01:26

Cholinergic Antagonists: Therapeutic Uses

Antimuscarinic drugs have various therapeutic applications by inhibiting parasympathetic stimulation in different systems. Here are the key therapeutic uses of antimuscarinics:    
Respiratory Tract: Ipratropium, aclidinium, and tiotropium treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They protect against bronchoconstriction caused by irritants like cigarette smoke, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. They also help reduce nasopharyngeal...
1.5K