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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
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Viral mimicry in cancer therapy
Laura Rosenberg1, Nicolas Vabret1
1Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Trends in Cancer
|September 23, 2025
Summary
Cancer treatments can trigger viral mimicry by reactivating transposable elements (TEs), leading to immune responses. This review explores TE-mediated immunity in cancer and its therapeutic implications.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Viral mimicry involves transposable element (TE) reactivation, producing nucleic acids that activate innate immunity.
- While initially studied in epigenetic therapies, various cancer treatments now show potential to induce TE reactivation and viral mimicry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on treatment-induced TE-mediated immune responses in cancer.
- To highlight therapeutic strategies, molecular mechanisms, and implications for tumor-immune interactions and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on TE reactivation and immune responses in cancer.
- Analysis of shared and distinct molecular mechanisms across different cancer treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Cancer therapies like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted treatments can induce TE reactivation.
- Induced TE reactivation triggers innate immune pathways, mimicking viral infection responses.
Conclusions:
- Treatment-induced viral mimicry represents a significant factor in cancer-immune interactions.
- Understanding these mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic strategies and improved treatment outcomes in oncology.
Keywords:
dsRNAimmunotherapyinnate sensingretroelementstransposable elementstype I interferonviral mimicryMore Related Videos
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