Exploring transposable elements: new horizons in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

IF 4.7 2区生物学 Q1 GENETICS & HEREDITY

Mobile DNA Pub Date : 2025-07-12 DOI:10.1186/s13100-025-00366-9

Ahlam Chaaban, Reem Sleem, Jana Santina, Mohamad Rima, José-Noel Ibrahim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Transposable elements (TE), also called transposons, are repetitive DNA sequences making up half of the human genome. Initially, TEs were described as "junk DNA" because they lack specific function. However, they have been recognized for their ability to replicate and integrate into different genomic locations; this "jumping gene" activity results in genomic instability, variation of the chromosomal architecture, and transcriptional dysregulation, all of which represent major hallmarks of cancer. In this respect, the involvement of TE in tumorigenesis was extensively studied and their role as diagnostic and therapeutic tools in cancer is now well-established. Transposons' products, including TE-derived cancer antigens, transcripts, and associated epigenetic modifications, mainly hypomethylation, were found to be promising biomarkers in several types of cancer ensuring early disease detection and prognosis. In addition, TE are currently used to design innovative approaches, with transposon-based systems, namely, Sleeping Beauty and PiggyBac, enabling precise genomic modifications and novel strategies for cancer therapy. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an overview on the dual application of TE as diagnostic and therapeutic tools in cancer, paving the way to improved clinical outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

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探索转座因子：癌症诊断和治疗的新视野。

转座因子（TE），也称为转座子，是构成人类基因组一半的重复DNA序列。最初，te被描述为“垃圾DNA”，因为它们缺乏特定的功能。然而，它们被认为具有复制和整合到不同基因组位置的能力；这种“跳跃基因”活动导致基因组不稳定、染色体结构变异和转录失调，所有这些都是癌症的主要标志。在这方面，TE在肿瘤发生中的作用得到了广泛的研究，它们作为癌症诊断和治疗工具的作用现已得到证实。转座子的产物，包括te衍生的癌症抗原、转录本和相关的表观遗传修饰，主要是低甲基化，被发现是几种类型癌症中有希望的生物标志物，确保早期疾病检测和预后。此外，TE目前用于设计创新方法，基于转座子的系统，即睡美人和PiggyBac，实现精确的基因组修饰和癌症治疗的新策略。因此，本综述的目的是概述TE作为癌症诊断和治疗工具的双重应用，为改善临床结果铺平道路。临床试验编号：不适用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Mobile DNA GENETICS & HEREDITY-

CiteScore

8.20

自引率

6.10%

发文量

审稿时长

11 weeks

期刊介绍： Mobile DNA is an online, peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes articles providing novel insights into DNA rearrangements in all organisms, ranging from transposition and other types of recombination mechanisms to patterns and processes of mobile element and host genome evolution. In addition, the journal will consider articles on the utility of mobile genetic elements in biotechnological methods and protocols.