Beyond oncogenesis: the unexplored benefits of viruses in cancer immunity.

Viral exposures beyond oncogenesis can enhance cancer immunity, with endogenous retroviruses and microbiome-associated phages playing protective roles.

• Why it matters: Understanding how viruses influence immune responses is crucial, as the traditional focus on oncogenic viruses overlooks potential natural defenses against cancer.
• What they did: The authors review evidence from millions of years of coevolution, highlighting how non-oncogenic viruses prime immune responses, mimic tumor antigens, and modulate immune checkpoints, involving over 20 virus types.
• The result: This expands the concept of viral roles in cancer, suggesting new strategies for prevention and immunotherapy, especially in resource-limited settings, by harnessing the virome's immune-modulating potential.