Scientists found that some chemotherapy drugs can activate the innate immune system. In tests of a potential agent called Compound 1, treated cancer cells made toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species. The cells then released signals normally seen in virus infection. This effect is known as viral mimicry.
When researchers put pretreated cancer cells into test animals, the immune system removed them and stayed ready to attack other cancer cells. Scientists now plan to screen existing chemotherapy drugs for viral mimicry and try combinations with immunotherapy.
Difficult words
- chemotherapy — medicine that kills or stops cancer cells
- innate immune system — body's first defense against germs and danger
- activate — make something start to work or act
- reactive oxygen species — harmful oxygen molecules made in cells
- viral mimicry — when cells send signals like a virus
- immunotherapy — treatment that helps the immune system fight disease
- screen — test many drugs to find useful ones
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Discussion questions
- Do you think combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy could help patients? Why or why not?
- What worries or interests you about tests in animals mentioned in the article?
- Would you like doctors to screen existing drugs for new uses? Why or why not?
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