Regulation of endogenous retroviruses for cancer immunotherapy

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are mobile genetic elements that have colonized organismal genomes throughout evolution. Host cells have evolved highly conserved defense mechanisms to silence ERV expression and mobilization due to their threat to genome integrity. However, ERV activation can also make tumor cells prone to recognition and elimination by the immune system. We study the basic mechanisms that regulate ERV silencing and activation, which are critical for designing new therapeutic approaches for cancer immunotherapy.