A research team based at the Francis Crick Institute have found that dormant remnants of old viruses are woken up when cancerous cells rapidly multiply. Looking at lung cancer patients, and animal models, the researchers noticed better survival rates were connected to B-cells clustering around tumours. B-cells are part of the body’s immune system that manufactures antibodies, which are known to fight off infections.
Professor Julian Downward, as associate director at the Francis Crick Institute, commented on the discovery.
“It turned out that the antibodies are recognising remnants of what’s termed endogenous retroviruses,” said Professor Downward.
Professor George Kassiotis, head of retroviral immunology at the biomedical research, explained further.
“The immune system is tricked into believing that the tumour cells are infected and it tries to eliminate the virus, so it’s sort of an alarm system.”
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As the antibodies summon support from the immune system to fight off the ancient virus, it inadvertently attacks the tumour cells, thereby helping to fight off cancer.
Professor Kassiotis said these viruses “might have been causing cancer in our ancestors”, but now could be “protecting us from cancer”.
The “fascinating” discovery has prompted scientists to look into another avenue for cancer treatment.
Scientists are now keen to develop vaccines that teach the body to hunt for endogenous retroviruses.
Professor Kassiotis said: “If we can do that, then you can think not only of therapeutic vaccines, you can also think of preventative vaccines.”
Dr Claire Bromley, from Cancer Research UK, commented on the new research study.
“All of us have ancient viral DNA in our genes, passed down from our ancestors.
“And this fascinating research has highlighted the role it plays in cancer and how our immune system can recognise and destroy cancer cells.”
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A person’s tailored cancer plan will depend on a number of factors, such as general health, the type of tumour, its size, and if it has spread elsewhere in the body.
“There are many cancer drugs, cancer drug combinations and they have individual side effects,” the charity notes.
The study by the Francis Crick Institute is published in the journal Nature.
