title: Unraveling the molecular pathways of DNA-methylation inhibitors: human endogenous retroviruses induce the innate immune response in tumors.
abstract: Loss of DNA methylation can activate endogenous retroviral expression and dsRNA in cancer cells. This leads to induction of toll-like receptor signaling stimulating an antiviral interferon response. Recent findings provide a therapeutic rationale for combining DNA methylation inhibitors with blockage of immune checkpoint proteins to fight cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), University-Clinic Erlangen , Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strick
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), University-Clinic Erlangen , Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Strissel
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins , Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Baylin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins , Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Chiappinelli
keywords: DNA methylation; IFN-signalling; TLR; dsRNA; endogeneous retrovirus (ERV); epigenetic therapy; immune checkpoints; innate immunity