DNA from Ancient Viruses Helps Many Cancers Grow

A recent study, co-authored by University of Colorado Cancer Center members Edward Chuong and Ben Bitler, reveals that DNA fragments from ancient retroviruses play a crucial role in cancer growth. The team found that the LTR10 sequence, derived from a retrovirus that integrated into the human genome 30 million years ago, acts as an enhancer, turning on multiple cancer-related genes in colorectal, lung, stomach, and prostate cancers. This discovery suggests potential cancer therapies could focus on silencing these viral sequences, offering a new strategy for targeting cancer-related genes.