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Mammary Tumor Viruses
Book chapter   Peer reviewed

Mammary Tumor Viruses

Dan H Moore, Carole A Long, Akhil B Vaidya, Joel B Sheffield, Arnold S Dion and Etienne Y Lasfargues
Advances in Cancer Research, pp 347-418
1979
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-230X(08)60850-7
PMID: 89801

Abstract

The chapter reviews the current understanding of structure, biochemistry, infectivity, and immunology of the genus B Oncornaviruses and their association with mammary carcinoma in mice. A discussion of the possible involvement of a Murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) -like agent in human breast cancer is also presented. The application of improved biochemical and immunological techniques coupled with progress in infecting cells in vitro with MuMTV has caused a resurgence of interest in this virus. Many investigators have recognized its potential in eukaryotic gene regulation. The multistage sequence of events following infection that result in the appearance of a mammary tumor many months later is not known. Host genetic factors that influence virus expression or susceptibility to tumorigenesis have been recognized and their number and mechanism of action are under investigation. The presence of hormones in vitro influences the expression of viral RNA and viral proteins, even in infected heterologous cells. This provides a model system for the study of hormonal control of genes. Molecular hybridization techniques have also directly established that all mice, even those that do not develop mammary tumors, contain MuMTV genetic information. Application of radioimmunoassay techniques to immunologic studies of MuMTV have resulted in the development of better defined and quantitative assays for the virus and its components. Application of serological techniques and others adopted from cellular immunology have revealed both humoral and cellular responses to MuMTV antigens in mice neonatally infected with MuMTV.

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