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Review
. 2023 Sep 27;24(19):14631.
doi: 10.3390/ijms241914631.

Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

Bárbara Costa  1   2   3 , Nuno Vale  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

Bárbara Costa et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

This review investigates the intricate role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in cancer development and progression, explicitly focusing on HERV-K (HML-2). This paper sheds light on the latest research advancements and potential treatment strategies by examining the historical context of HERVs and their involvement in critical biological processes such as embryonic development, immune response, and disease progression. This review covers computational modeling for drug-target binding assessment, systems biology modeling for simulating HERV-K viral cargo dynamics, and using antiviral drugs to combat HERV-induced diseases. The findings presented in this review contribute to our understanding of HERV-mediated disease mechanisms and provide insights into future therapeutic approaches. They emphasize why HERV-K holds significant promise as a biomarker and a target.

Keywords: HERV-K (HML-2); antiviral drugs; cancer; human endogenous retrovirus; viral infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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