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Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

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The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
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As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
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DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
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Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
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Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
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Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

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Towards targeting transposable elements for cancer therapy.

Yonghao Liang1,2, Xuan Qu1,2, Nakul M Shah3

  • 1Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.

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|January 16, 2024
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs), once called "junk DNA", are key drivers in cancer evolution. Understanding their role offers new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) comprise nearly half of the human genome.
  • Historically disregarded as 'junk DNA', TEs are now recognized for their functional roles in gene regulation, evolution, and disease.
  • Cancer's genetic and epigenetic landscape is shaped by TEs, influencing cancer-specific gene activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dual role of transposable elements (TEs) in cancer: promoting its evolution and offering therapeutic vulnerabilities.
  • To discuss the impact of TEs on transcriptome regulation and cellular processes in cancer.
  • To highlight TEs as potential targets for novel cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on transposable elements in cancer.
  • Analysis of TEs' contribution to gene regulation and cellular processes in cancer.
  • Discussion of genomic assay challenges for TE characterization.

Main Results:

  • TEs act as a 'double-edged sword' in cancer, facilitating its progression while presenting exploitable weaknesses.
  • TEs significantly influence transcriptome regulation and other cellular functions relevant to cancer.
  • Genomic assays face technical hurdles in comprehensively characterizing TEs.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable elements play a critical, multifaceted role in cancer development and progression.
  • Exploiting TEs offers promising avenues for innovative cancer therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research and improved genomic techniques are needed to fully understand and leverage TEs in oncology.