Can Targeted Drugs Developed from the Study of Human Endogenous Retrovirus K Replace Traditional Chemotherapy in terms of Colorectal Tumors?

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with colorectal cancer (CRC) being one of the most prevalent forms. Traditional chemotherapy, while effective, often comes with significant side effects and limitations, prompting the need for more targeted and less toxic therapeutic strategies. This dissertation explores the potential of Human Endogenous Retrovirus K (HERV-K) as a novel target for cancer treatment, particularly in CRC. HERV-K, a retroviral element embedded in the human genome, has been linked to various cancers due to its reactivation in malignant tissues. The study reviews existing literature on HERV-K's role in carcinogenesis, its protein expression in tumors, and the development of therapeutic strategies targeting HERV-K, such as CRISPR-based gene editing, immune activation, and autoantibody therapies. These emerging strategies are compared with traditional chemotherapy in terms of efficacy, side-effect profiles, and economic feasibility. While HERV-K-based therapies show promise due to their precise targeting and potential for long-term immune protection, they are still in early stages of development and face challenges such as high costs and limited clinical trials. The dissertation concludes that HERV-K-targeted therapies, while promising, cannot currently replace traditional chemotherapy due to certain limitations. Future research should focus on expanding the understanding of HERV-K's role in different cancers and optimizing these therapies for broader application.