A recent study has revealed that parts of ancient viruses that remain in our DNA can be the key to fighting lung cancer, Business Insider reported.
Scientists from theFrancis Crick Institute with support fromCancer Research UK made this discovery while studying cancer cells.
These ancient viruses, which are known asendogenous retroviruses, are usuallyasleep in most people but if a person is diagnosed with cancer, they can wake up again in that cancerous tissue.
Scientists, while studyinglung cancer in both mice and human tissue, also found out that the cells can draw out an immune response from B cells when activated.
These B cells are the white blood cells that help in fighting disease by creating antibodies. When the viruses "wake up" in areas where cancer is detected, our body responds by fighting cancer.
"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," Professor George Kassiotis, head of the Retroviral Immunology Laboratory at the Crick, told the BBC.
Kassiotis said that through this discovery, scientists have gotten closer to creating effective treatments for lung cancer.
"With more research, we could look to develop a cancer treatment vaccine made up of activated ERV genes to boost antibody production at the site of patient's cancer and hopefully improve the outcome of immunotherapy treatment," said Kassiotis in a statement issued by The Francis Crick Institute.
He added, "ERVs have been hiding as viral footprints in the human genome for thousands or millions of years, so it's fascinating to think that the diseases of our ancestors might be key to treating diseases today."
"This work opens up a number of new opportunities for improving patient responses to immunotherapy, a crucial step in helping more people survive lung cancer," saidAssociate Research DirectorJulian Downward.
The second most common cancer in the United States is lung cancer and 2023 will see about 238,340 new cases with127,070 deaths, as per theAmerican Cancer Society.