Transposon DNA sequences facilitate the tissue-specific gene transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells.

ABSTRACT: The exchange of genes between cells is known to play an important physiological and pathological role in many organisms. We show that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) facilitates cell-specific gene transfer between human cancer cells and explain part of the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. As ctDNA migrates into the nucleus, genetic information is transferred. Cell targeting and ctDNA integration require ERVL, SINE or LINE DNA sequences. Chemically manufactured AluSp and MER11C sequences replicated multiple myeloma (MM) ctDNA cell targeting and integration. Additionally, we found that ctDNA may alter the treatment response of MM and pancreatic cancer models. This study shows that retrotransposon DNA sequences promote cancer gene transfer. However, because cell-free DNA has been detected in

SUBMITTER: Cinar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11260451 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature