Ancient virus may treat lung cancer, say scientists

A recent study conducted by scientists from the Francis Crick Institute and funded by Cancer Research UK has discovered that the remnants of ancient viruses present in human DNA can aid people in fighting lung cancer. The study found that endogenous retroviruses, which are usually dormant in most humans, can be awoken in cancer tissue and can evoke an immune response. B cells, a type of white blood cells that create illness-busting antibodies, react to these activated cells by creating a biological response to fight cancer. This discovery could pave the way for developing a cancer treatment vaccine to aid survival rates. The scientists believe that with more research, they could create a vaccine made up of activated ERV genes to boost antibody production at the patient's cancer site and improve the outcome of immunotherapy treatment. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States, and the American Cancer Society predicts that 2023 will see around 238,340 new cases of lung cancer and 127,070 deaths from the disease. This study could open up new opportunities for improving patient responses to immunotherapy, which is a crucial step in helping more people survive lung cancer. Julian Downward, Associate Research Director and head of the Oncogene Biology Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute, said that this work could offer significant progress in the field of immunotherapy. The discovery of how ancient endogenous retroviruses can help fight cancer is a fascinating insight into how diseases of our ancestors might be the key to treating current diseases.