ArticleJournal of the National Cancer Institute2012
Immunotherapeutic potential of anti-human endogenous retrovirus-K envelope protein antibodies in targeting breast tumors.
Article in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 111 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
111 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 172 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Systematic Review of Expression and Immunogenicity of Human Endogenous Retroviral Proteins in Cancer and Discussion of Therapeutic Approaches.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Pooled it
- Close to the Bedside: A Systematic Review of Endogenous Retroviruses and Their Impact in Oncology.The Journal of surgical research · 2019Pooled it
- Transposable Element Activation: A Hallmark of Cancer.Cancer discovery · 2026Review
- Recurrent ZC3H18 mutations stabilize oncogenic endogenous retroviral RNA.Cell reports · 2026Article
- HERV-K HML-2 transcriptional profiling and splicing pattern unveiled by direct single-molecule long-read RNA sequencing.Mobile DNA · 2026Article
- Characterization of HERV-K (HML-2) Rec proteins encoded in the human genome and their post-transcriptional function.Journal of virology · 2025Article
- The expression, regulation, and function of human endogenous retroviruses in genitourinary cancers.Cell death discovery · 2025Review
- Human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) envelope structures in pre- and postfusion by cryo-EM.Science advances · 2025Article
- HERV-derived epitopes represent new targets for T-cell-based immunotherapies in ovarian cancer.Journal for immunotherapy of cancer · 2025Article
- The Role of Human Endogenous Retroviruses in the Initiation and Progression of Melanoma.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Investigating the expression of HERV-K env, np9, gag, and rec in bladder cancers.Infectious agents and cancer · 2025Article
- Combination Therapy Approaches to Enhance the Efficacy of ERV-Targeting Vaccines in Cancer.Cancer immunology research · 2025Review
- Transposons disrupt genomic stability and trigger cancers.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Review
- Expression profiles of TNF-Alpha and HERV-K Env proteins in multiple types of colon and lung disease.Genes & genomics · 2025Article
- Article
- Revolutionizing cancer treatment: an in-depth exploration of CAR-T cell therapies.Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 2024Review
- Evolution of Repetitive Elements, Their Roles in Homeostasis and Human Disease, and Potential Therapeutic Applications.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Regression of renal cell carcinoma by T cell receptor-engineered T cells targeting a human endogenous retrovirus.Journal for immunotherapy of cancer · 2024Article
- Endogenous Retroviruses Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Inflammatory Signaling/Senescence-Related Pathways and Therapeutic Strategies.Aging and disease · 2024Review
- Human endogenous retrovirus type K encoded Np9 oncoprotein induces DNA damage response.Journal of medical virology · 2024Article
51 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
15 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe envelope (env) protein of the human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) family is commonly expressed on the surface of breast cancer cells. We assessed whether HERV-K env is a potential target for antibody-based immunotherapy of breast cancer.
methodsWe examined the expression of HERV-K env protein in various malignant (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SKBR3, MDA-MB-453, T47D, and ZR-75-1) and nonmalignant (MCF-10A and MCF-10AT) human breast cell lines by immunoblot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry. Anti-HERV-K env monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; 6H5, 4D1, 4E11, 6E11, and 4E6) were used to target expression of HERV-K, and antitumor effects were assessed by quantifying growth and apoptosis of breast cancer cells in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo in mice (n = 5 per group) bearing xenograft tumors. The mechanisms responsible for 6H5 mAb-mediated effects were investigated by microarray assays, flow cytometry, immunoblot, and immunofluorescence staining. The expression of HERV-K env protein was assessed in primary breast tumors (n = 223) by immunohistochemistry. All statistical tests were two-sided.
resultsThe expression of HERV-K env protein in malignant breast cancer cell lines was substantially higher than nonmalignant breast cells. Anti-HERV-K-specific mAbs inhibited growth and induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells in vitro. Mice treated with 6H5 mAb showed statistically significantly reduced growth of xenograft tumors compared with mice treated with control immunoglobulin (control [mIgG] vs 6H5 mAb, for tumors originating from MDA-MB-231 cells, mean size = 1448.33 vs 475.44 mm(3); difference = 972.89 mm(3), 95% CI = 470.17 to 1475.61 mm(3); P < .001). Several proteins involved in the apoptotic signaling pathways were overexpressed in vitro in 6H5 mAb-treated malignant breast cells compared with mIgG-treated control. HERV-K expression was detected in 148 (66%) of 223 primary breast tumors, and a higher rate of lymph node metastasis was associated with HERV-K-positive compared with HERV-K-negative tumors (43% vs 23%, P = .003).
conclusionMonoclonal antibodies against HERV-K env protein show potential as novel immunotherapeutic agents for breast cancer therapy.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.