Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
08:32
Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
11.0K
Viral Mimicry by Repeats Mediates Evolutionary Trade-Offs in Cancer-Immune Coevolution
Siyu Sun1, Benjamin D Greenbaum1,2,3
1The Halvorsen Center for Computational Oncology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Cancer Discovery
|April 17, 2026
Summary
Repetitive elements (REs) in cancer can mimic viruses, activating immune responses. This immune pressure can be therapeutically exploited to manage cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Repetitive elements (REs) are DNA sequences that can become active during cancer evolution.
- De-repressed REs can trigger innate immune responses through "viral mimicry" mechanisms.
- This immune activation imposes selective pressure on tumor cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RE mimics in cancer immune evolution.
- To understand the transition from anti-tumorigenic immunity to immune tolerance.
- To explore therapeutic strategies targeting RE-mediated immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cancer evolution models.
- Investigating innate immune activation by repetitive elements.
- Studying immune pressure and tumor cell adaptation.
- Predictive modeling of immune equilibrium.
Main Results:
- Repetitive elements (REs) act as "viral mimics", initiating immune responses.
- This process drives selective immune pressure against early tumors.
- A tolerized equilibrium can be reached, influenced by trade-offs.
- These dynamics are predictable and potentially targetable.
Conclusions:
- RE mimics are key mediators in cancer-immune interactions.
- Understanding these interactions allows for prediction of cancer immune states.
- Therapeutic exploitation of RE-mediated immunity is a promising avenue.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
41.1K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
41.1K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
7.6K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
7.6K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
4.4K
4.4K
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
7.3K
Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
7.3K
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
3.2K
3.2K
00:57Viral Recombination
25.9K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
25.9K