Prostate, breast and gynecological cancer markers RAK with homology to HIV-1

Cancer Lett. 1998 Feb 27;124(2):213-23. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(97)00483-7.

Abstract

Breast and gynecological cancer-associated antigens RAK p120, p42 and p25 exhibit molecular, immunological and genetic homology to HIV-1 proteins. Normal tissues, including the majority of tissues adjacent to cancer, do not express these unique cancer markers. Antigens RAK are now detected in 100% of prostate cancer and in the majority of prostate benign hyperplasia (BPH) cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with HIV-1 gp41-derived primers revealed prostate cancer-associated DNA fragments of similar size (140 bp) as in HIV-1 genome. Ninety-five percent of BPH samples obtained from prostate cancer patients tested PCR-positive. For comparison, only 61.9% of BPH samples obtained from cancer-free patients tested PCR-positive. The DNA fragments amplified in prostate cancer and in BPH showed more than 90% homology to the HIV-1 gene for gp41. The obtained results strongly suggest that a retrovirus related to HIV-1 may be associated with cancers of the reproductive system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / analysis*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / chemistry*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins*
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / genetics
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / analysis*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CBX5 protein, human
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • FRK protein, human

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF048697
  • GENBANK/AF048842
  • GENBANK/AF048843
  • GENBANK/AF048844
  • GENBANK/AF048845
  • GENBANK/AF048846
  • GENBANK/AF073463
  • GENBANK/AF073464
  • GENBANK/AF073465
  • GENBANK/AF073466
  • GENBANK/AF073467
  • GENBANK/AF073468
  • GENBANK/AF073469