Differential Expression of MMTV Gene Sequences in Tumors of European and African Ancestry

Authors

Danielle Warner, Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Kristen Ellis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Perpetua Muganda, Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Christopher Doss, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

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Description

The Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) phenotype constitutes a group of the most heterogeneous tumors. These tumors are clinically aggressive with poor survival rates, lack targeted therapy, tend to be resistant to chemotherapy, and have a high risk of relapse. They account for 15-25% of the breast cancer cases in tumors of African ancestry, resulting in a 40% higher mortality rate. Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus known to induce mammary tumors in mice by integrating its genetic material into the host genome. In some studies, MMTV-like sequences have been detected in human breast cancer tissues, including TNBC. The differential expression of MMTV genes across diverse ethnic groups could provide insight into the pathogenesis and health disparities associated with TNBC. Utilizing the Galaxy platform for genomic analysis, we could visualize and quantify gene expression in the two groups. We found the differential expression of MMTV (gag, env and sag) genes in TNBC of EA and AA. Expression of the MMTV genes was observed in hotspots. The main gag gene hotspot was predominant in 80% of tumors of African ancestry, as compared to 60% of tumors of European ancestry. The primary env gene was predominant in 60% of the tumors of African ancestry, as compared to 20% of the tumors of European. The primary sag gene hotspot was predominant in 60% of African ancestry tumors, as compared to 20% of European ancestry tumors. It is possible that differentially expressed MMTV genes play a role in pathogenesis and health disparities associated with TNBC.

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Keywords

triple negative breast cancer, TNBC, health disparities, African ancestry, European ancestry, MMTV, Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus, gene expression, retrovirus, breast cancer, oncogenesis, genomic analysis, Galaxy platform, MMTV gag gene, MMTV env gene, MMTV sag gene, ethnic differences, tumor heterogeneity, cancer pathogenesis, cancer genomics

Recommended Citation

Warner, Danielle; Ellis, Kristen; Muganda, Perpetua; and Doss, Christopher, "Differential Expression of MMTV Gene Sequences in Tumors of European and African Ancestry" (2025). 2025 Honors College Research Symposium. 33.
https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/33