Boston - Saba:
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), a comprehensive treatment and research institution in Boston, have uncovered an unprecedented mechanism that could pave the way for new immunotherapies for kidney cancer.
In the groundbreaking study, scientists discovered that viral genes embedded in human DNA - dating back to ancient viral infections - can be reactivated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (the most common form of kidney cancer) cells, triggering a powerful immune response against the tumor.
When the tumor suppressor gene (VHL) is disrupted - a hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma - these old viral genes (known as endogenous retroviruses) begin to produce viral proteins. This process is regulated by a human protein called HIF2α, whose production increases when the tumor suppressor gene is inactivated.
The team found that cancer cells break down these viral proteins and display parts of them on the cell surface as "flags" that alert the immune system.
Tests on human and mouse samples showed that immune cells, known as T cells, recognize these "flags" and launch an attack against the tumor.
Researchers say the findings represent a paradigm shift in understanding the complex interaction between the ancient viral genome , the immune system, and could revolutionize cancer treatments in the coming years.
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