Heat Shock Factor 1 Is a Direct Antagonist of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase.

Through transcriptional control of the evolutionarily conserved heat shock, or proteotoxic stress, response, heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) preserves proteomic stability. Here, we show that HSF1, a physiological substrate for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), constitutively suppresses this central metabolic sensor. By physically evoking conformational switching of AMPK, HSF1 impairs AMP binding to the γ subunits and enhances the PP2A-mediated de-phosphorylation, but it impedes the LKB1-mediated phosphorylation of Thr172, and retards ATP binding to the catalytic α subunits. These immediate and manifold regulations empower HSF1 to both repress AMPK under basal conditions and restrain its activation by diverse stimuli, thereby promoting lipogenesis, cholesterol synthesis, and protein cholesteroylation. In vivo, HSF1 antagonizes AMPK to control body fat mass and drive the lipogenic phenotype and growth of melanomas independently of its intrinsic transcriptional action. Thus, the physical AMPK-HSF1 interaction epitomizes a reciprocal kinase-substrate regulation whereby lipid metabolism and proteomic stability intertwine.

cGAS/STING signalling pathway in senescence and oncogenesis.

The cGAS/STING signaling pathway is a crucial component of the innate immune system, playing significant roles in sensing cytosolic DNA, regulating cellular senescence, and contributing to oncogenesis. Recent advances have shed new lights into the molecular mechanisms governing pathway activation in multiple pathophysiological settings, the indispensable roles of cGAS/STING signaling in cellular senescence, and its context-dependent roles in cancer development and suppression. This review summarizes current knowledge related to the biology of cGAS/STING signaling pathway and its participations into senescence and oncogenesis. We further explore the clinical implications and therapeutic potential for cGAS/STING targeted therapies, and faced challenges in the field. With a focus on molecular mechanisms and emerging pharmacological targets, this review underscores the importance of future studies to harness the therapeutic potential of the cGAS/STING pathway in treating senescence-related disorders and cancer. Advanced understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of cGAS/STING signaling, along with the associated deregulations in diseases, combined with the development of new classes of cGAS/STING modulators, hold great promises for creating novel and effective therapeutic strategies. These advancements could address current treatment challenges and unlock the full potential of cGAS/STING in treating senescence-related disorders and oncogenesis.

Breakage in breakage-fusion-bridge cycle: an 80-year-old mystery.

2021 marked the 80th anniversary of Barbara McClintock's pioneering article on the breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycle. Of the three steps of the BFB cycle, breakage remains the least understood despite its major contribution to mutagenesis. We discuss recent findings shedding light on how chromatin bridges break in yeast and animal cells.

IRX2 regulates endometrial carcinoma oncogenesis by transcriptional repressing RUVBL1.

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is a rising concern among gynecological malignancies. Iroquois Homeobox 2 (IRX2), a member of the Iroquois homeobox gene family, demonstrates variable effects in different cancer types, emphasizing the need for extensive exploration of its involvement in EC progression. Utilizing TCGA and GEO databases, as well as performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis on clinical samples, we assessed the expression levels of IRX2 and its promoter methylation in EC. To understand the functional roles of IRX2, we conducted various assays including in vitro CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, cell invasion assays, and cell apoptosis assays. Moreover, we utilized in vivo subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. Additionally, we performed KEGG pathway and gene set enrichment analyses to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms. To validate the regulatory relationship between IRX2 and RUVBL1, we employed chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Our results indicate significantly reduced levels of IRX2 expression in EC, correlating with higher histological grades, advanced clinical stages, and diminished overall survival. We observed that DNA methylation of the IRX2 promoter suppresses its expression in EC, with cg26333652 and cg11793269 playing critical roles as methylated sites. In contrast, ectopic overexpression of IRX2 substantially inhibits cell proliferation and invasion, and promotes cell apoptosis. Additionally, we discovered that IRX2 exerts negative regulation on the expression of RUVBL1, which is upregulated in EC and associated with a poorer prognosis. In conclusion, our findings indicate that decreased expression of IRX2 facilitates EC cell growth through the regulation of RUVBL1 expression, thereby contributing to the development of EC. Hence, targeting the IRX2-RUVBL1 axis holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for EC treatment.

A review and perspective paper: Ras oncogene gets modest, from kingpin to mere henchman.

The concomitant activation of both the YAP1 co-transcription factor and RAS GTPases is a hallmark of several aggressive cancers, though the intricacies of their relationship and implications for oncogenesis are still poorly understood. This review has presented a cooperative model where YAP1 and RAS are not independently acting oncogenes but rather interdependently acting ones, with each fulfilling an essential role within the oncogenic process. YAP1 is responsible for initiating the expression of key proteins that contribute to various cancer traits. However, these proteins must often be transported into the cytoplasm to exert their effects. We suggest that oncogenic RAS actually facilitates this transport, enabling the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of the nuclear transporter XPO1 (aka Exportin1). This mechanism is particularly crucial for anti-apoptotic proteins. Instead of being sequestered within the nucleus in an ineffective state, these proteins are rather shuttled into the cytoplasm. Within the cytoplasm, they can effectively inhibit apoptosis, undermining by these means the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents designed to induce cell death in cancer cells. Therefore, a clearer understanding of the oncogenic partnership between RAS and YAP1 will likely provide new insights into the molecular underpinnings of cancer and highlight as well potential targets for therapeutic interventions designed to disrupt this pernicious interaction.

How germline genes promote malignancy in cancer cells.

Cancers often express hundreds of genes otherwise specific to germ cells, the germline/cancer (GC) genes. Here, we present and discuss the hypothesis that activation of a "germline program" promotes cancer cell malignancy. We do so by proposing four hallmark processes of the germline: meiosis, epigenetic plasticity, migration, and metabolic plasticity. Together, these hallmarks enable replicative immortality of germ cells as well as cancer cells. Especially meiotic genes are frequently expressed in cancer, implying that genes unique to meiosis may play a role in oncogenesis. Because GC genes are not expressed in healthy somatic tissues, they form an appealing source of specific treatment targets with limited side effects besides infertility. Although it is still unclear why germ cell specific genes are so abundantly expressed in cancer, from our hypothesis it follows that the germline's reproductive program is intrinsic to cancer development.

The role of cellular quiescence in cancer - beyond a quiet passenger.

Quiescence, the ability to temporarily halt proliferation, is a conserved process that initially allowed survival of unicellular organisms during inhospitable times and later contributed to the rise of multicellular organisms, becoming key for cell differentiation, size control and tissue homeostasis. In this Review, we explore the concept of cancer as a disease that involves abnormal regulation of cellular quiescence at every step, from malignant transformation to metastatic outgrowth. Indeed, disrupted quiescence regulation can be linked to each of the so-called 'hallmarks of cancer'. As we argue here, quiescence induction contributes to immune evasion and resistance against cell death. In contrast, loss of quiescence underlies sustained proliferative signalling, evasion of growth suppressors, pro-tumorigenic inflammation, angiogenesis and genomic instability. Finally, both acquisition and loss of quiescence are involved in replicative immortality, metastasis and deregulated cellular energetics. We believe that a viewpoint that considers quiescence abnormalities that occur during oncogenesis might change the way we ask fundamental questions and the experimental approaches we take, potentially contributing to novel discoveries that might help to alter the course of cancer therapy.

Single-cell analysis reveals the Comma-1D cell line as a unique model for mammary gland development and breast cancer.

The mammary gland epithelial tree contains two distinct cell populations, luminal and basal. The investigation of how this heterogeneity is developed and how it influences tumorigenesis has been hampered by the need to perform studies on these populations using animal models. Comma-1D is an immortalized mouse mammary epithelial cell line that has unique morphogenetic properties. By performing single-cell RNA-seq studies, we found that Comma-1D cultures consist of two main populations with luminal and basal features, and a smaller population with mixed lineage and bipotent characteristics. We demonstrated that multiple transcription factors associated with the differentiation of the mammary epithelium in vivo also modulate this process in Comma-1D cultures. Additionally, we found that only cells with luminal features were able to acquire transformed characteristics after an oncogenic HER2 (also known as ERBB2) mutant was introduced in their genomes. Overall, our studies characterize, at a single-cell level, the heterogeneity of the Comma-1D cell line and illustrate how Comma-1D cells can be used as an experimental model to study both the differentiation and the transformation processes in vitro.

Puppet masters of B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: The preB cell receptor and the interleukin 7 receptor α.

B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is enriched for a preB cell phenotype, hinting at a specific vulnerability of this cell stage. Two signaling pathways via the preB cell receptor (preBCR) and the interleukin 7 receptor α (IL-7Rα) chain govern the balance between differentiation and proliferation at this stage and both receptor pathways are routinely altered in human BCP-ALL. Here, we review the immunobiology of both the preBCR as well as the IL-7Rα and analyze the human BCP-ALL spectrum in the light of these signaling complexes. Finally, we present a terminology for preBCR signaling modules that distinguishes a pro-proliferative "phase-I" module from a pro-differentiative "phase-II" module. This terminology might serve as a framework to better address shared oncogenic mechanics of preB cell stage BCP-ALL.

Liver cancer-specific mutations in functional domains of ADAR2 lead to the elevation of coding and non-coding RNA editing in multiple tumor-related genes.

Mutation is the major cause of phenotypic innovations. Apart from DNA mutations, the alteration on RNA such as the ADAR-mediated A-to-I RNA editing could also shape the phenotype. These two layers of variations have not been systematically combined to study their collective roles in cancers. We collected the high-quality transcriptomes of ten hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the matched control samples. We systematically identified HCC-specific mutations in the exonic regions and profiled the A-to-I RNA editome in each sample. All ten HCC samples had mutations in the CDS of ADAR2 gene (dsRNA-binding domain or catalytic domain). The consequence of these mutations converged to the elevation of ADAR2 efficiency as reflected by the global increase of RNA editing levels in HCC. The up-regulated editing sites (UES) were enriched in the CDS and UTR of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSG), indicating the possible roles of these target genes in HCC oncogenesis. We present the mutation-ADAR2-UES-oncogene/TSG-HCC axis that explains how mutations at different layers would finally lead to abnormal phenotype. In the light of central dogma, our work provides novel insights into how to fully take advantage of the transcriptome data to decipher the consequence of mutations.

Machine learning extracts oncogenic-specific γ-H2AX foci formation pattern upon genotoxic stress.

H2AX is a histone H2A variant that becomes phosphorylated upon genotoxic stress. The phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX) plays an antioncogenic role in the DNA damage response and its foci patterns are highly variable, in terms of intensities and sizes. However, whether characteristic γ-H2AX foci patterns are associated with oncogenesis (oncogenic-specific γ-H2AX foci patterns) remains unknown. We previously reported that a defect in the acetyltransferase activity of TIP60 promotes cancer cell growth in human cell lines. In this study, we compared γ-H2AX foci patterns between TIP60 wild-type cells and TIP60 HAT mutant cells by using machine learning. When focused solely on the intensity and size of γ-H2AX foci, we extracted the TIP60 HAT mutant-like oncogenic-specific γ-H2AX foci pattern among all datasets of γ-H2AX foci patterns. Furthermore, by using the dimensionality reduction method UMAP, we also observed TIP60 HAT mutant-like oncogenic-specific γ-H2AX foci patterns in TIP60 wild-type cells. In summary, we propose the existence of an oncogenic-specific γ-H2AX foci pattern and the importance of a machine learning approach to extract oncogenic signaling among the γ-H2AX foci variations.

Parecoxib inhibits tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma through ERK-VEGF/MMPs signaling pathway.

Parecoxib, a well-recognized nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been reported to possess anticancer properties in various tumor types. In this work, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer effects of parecoxib on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. To assess the impact of parecoxib on HCC cell proliferation, we employed Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays. Hoechst/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. Wound healing and transwell assays were utilized to assess cell migration and invasion. Tube formation assay was employed to analyze angiogenesis. Protein levels were determined using western blotting, and mRNA expression levels were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A xenograft mouse model was used to confirm the antitumor effects of parecoxib on HCC tumors in vivo. Our data demonstrated that parecoxib effectively inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, parecoxib induced cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, parecoxib hindered tumor migration and invasion by impeding the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Further investigation showed that parecoxib could significantly suppress angiogenesis through the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) axis. Notably, treatment with the ERK activator phorbol myristate acetate upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and VEGF and reversed the function of parecoxib in HCC cells. Besides, parecoxib displayed its antitumor efficacy in vivo. Collectively, our results suggest that parecoxib ameliorates HCC progression by regulating proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis through the ERK-VEGF/MMPs signaling pathway.

RNA elements that control human papillomavirus mRNA splicing-targets for therapy?

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause more than 4.5% of all cancer in the world and more than half of these cases are attributed to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16). Prophylactic vaccines are available but antiviral drugs are not. Novel targets for therapy are urgently needed. Alternative RNA splicing is extensively used by HPVs to express all their genes and HPV16 is no exception. This process must function to perfection since mis-splicing could perturb the HPV gene expression program by altering mRNA levels or by generating dysfunctional mRNAs. Cis-acting RNA elements on the viral mRNAs and their cognate cellular trans-acting factors control papillomavirus RNA splicing. The precise but delicate nature of the splicing process renders splicing sensitive to interference. As such, papillomavirus RNA splicing is a potential target for therapy. Here we summarize our current understanding of cis-acting HPV16 RNA elements that control HPV16 mRNA splicing via cellular proteins and discuss how they may be exploited as targets for therapy to papillomavirus infections and cancer.

5-Methoxytryptophan enhances the sensitivity of sorafenib on the inhibition of proliferation and metastasis for lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and effective therapies are limited. Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide with limited effective therapy. Sorafenib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor frequently used to treat numerous types of malignant tumors. However, it has been demonstrated that sorafenib showed moderate antitumor activity and is associated with several side effects in lung cancer, which restricted its clinical application. This study aimed to examine the antitumor effect of the combination treatment of sorafenib and 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP) on cell growth and metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. METHOD: The anticancer effect of the combination treatment of sorafenib and 5-MTP was determined through cytotoxicity assay and colony forming assays. The mechanism was elucidated using flow cytometry and western blotting. Wound healing and Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the impact of the combination treatment on migration and invasion abilities. An in vivo model was employed to analyze the effect of the combination treatment on the tumorigenic ability of LLC cells. RESULT: Our results demonstrated that the sorafenib and 5-MTP combination synergistically reduced viability and proliferation compared to sorafenib or 5-MTP treatment alone. Reduction of cyclin D1 expression was observed in the sorafenib alone or combination treatments, leading to cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the sorafenib-5-MTP combination significantly increased the inhibitory effect on migration and invasion of LLC cells compared to the single treatments. The combination also significantly downregulated vimentin and MMP9 levels, contributing to the inhibition of metastasis. The reduction of phosphorylated Akt and STAT3 expression may further contribute to the inhibitory effect on proliferation and metastasis. In vivo, the sorafenib-5-MTP combination further reduced tumor growth and metastasis compared to the treatment of sorafenib alone. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data indicate that 5-MTP sensitizes the antitumor activity of sorafenib in LLC cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that sorafenib-5-MTP has the potential to serve as a therapeutic option for patients with lung cancer.

Aging and obesity prime the methylome and transcriptome of adipose stem cells for disease and dysfunction.

The epigenome of stem cells occupies a critical interface between genes and environment, serving to regulate expression through modification by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We hypothesized that aging and obesity, which represent major risk factors for a variety of diseases, synergistically modify the epigenome of adult adipose stem cells (ASCs). Using integrated RNA- and targeted bisulfite-sequencing in murine ASCs from lean and obese mice at 5- and 12-months of age, we identified global DNA hypomethylation with either aging or obesity, and a synergistic effect of aging combined with obesity. The transcriptome of ASCs in lean mice was relatively stable to the effects of age, but this was not true in obese mice. Functional pathway analyses identified a subset of genes with critical roles in progenitors and in diseases of obesity and aging. Specifically, Mapt, Nr3c2, App, and Ctnnb1 emerged as potential hypomethylated upstream regulators in both aging and obesity (AL vs. YL and AO vs. YO), and App, Ctnnb1, Hipk2, Id2, and Tp53 exhibited additional effects of aging in obese animals. Furthermore, Foxo3 and Ccnd1 were potential hypermethylated upstream regulators of healthy aging (AL vs. YL), and of the effects of obesity in young animals (YO vs. YL), suggesting that these factors could play a role in accelerated aging with obesity. Finally, we identified candidate driver genes that appeared recurrently in all analyses and comparisons undertaken. Further mechanistic studies are needed to validate the roles of these genes capable of priming ASCs for dysfunction in aging- and obesity-associated pathologies.

Significance of targeting DNMT3A mutations in AML.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent form of leukemia among adults, characterized by aggressive behavior and significant genetic diversity. Despite decades of reliance on conventional chemotherapy as the mainstay treatment, patients often struggle with achieving remission, experience rapid relapses, and have limited survival prospects. While intensified induction chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation have enhanced patient outcomes, these benefits are largely confined to younger AML patients capable of tolerating intensive treatments. DNMT3A, a crucial enzyme responsible for establishing de novo DNA methylation, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance between hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and self-renewal, thereby influencing gene expression programs through epigenetic regulation. DNMT3A mutations are the most frequently observed genetic abnormalities in AML, predominantly in older patients, occurring in approximately 20-30% of adult AML cases and over 30% of AML with a normal karyotype. Consequently, the molecular underpinnings and potential therapeutic targets of DNMT3A mutations in AML are currently being thoroughly investigated. This article provides a comprehensive summary and the latest insights into the structure and function of DNMT3A, examines the impact of DNMT3A mutations on the progression and prognosis of AML, and explores potential therapeutic approaches for AML patients harboring DNMT3A mutations.

Biological role and regulation of circular RNA as an emerging biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cancer.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a unique family of endogenous RNAs devoid of 3' poly-A tails and 5' end caps. These single-stranded circRNAs, found in the cytoplasm, are synthesized via back-splicing mechanisms, merging introns, exons, or both, resulting in covalently closed circular loops. They are profusely expressed across the eukaryotic transcriptome and offer heightened stability against exonuclease RNase R compared to linear RNA counterparts. This review endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of circRNAs' characteristics, biogenesis, and mechanisms of action. Furthermore, aimed to shed light on the potential of circRNAs as significant biomarkers in various cancer types. It has been performed an exhaustive literature review, drawing on recent studies and findings related to circRNA characteristics, synthesis, function, evaluation techniques, and their associations with oncogenesis. CircRNAs are intricately associated with tumor progression and development. Their multifaceted roles encompass gene regulation through the sponging of proteins and microRNAs, controlling transcription and splicing, interacting with RNA binding proteins (RBPs), and facilitating gene translation. Due to these varied roles, circRNAs have become a focal point in tumor pathology investigations, given their promising potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents. CircRNAs, due to their unique biogenesis and multifunctionality, hold immense promise in the realm of oncology. Their stability, widespread expression, and intricate involvement in gene regulation underscore their prospective utility as reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. As our understanding of circRNAs deepens, advanced techniques for their detection, evaluation, and manipulation will likely emerge. These advancements might catalyze the translation of circRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics into clinical practice, potentially revolutionizing cancer care and prognosis.

From developmental to atavistic bet-hedging: How cancer cells pervert the exploitation of random single-cell phenotypic fluctuations.

Stochastic gene expression plays a leading developmental role through its contribution to cell differentiation. It is also proposed to promote phenotypic diversification in malignant cells. However, it remains unclear if these two forms of cellular bet-hedging are identical or rather display distinct features. Here we argue that bet-hedging phenomena in cancer cells are more similar to those occurring in unicellular organisms than to those of normal metazoan cells. We further propose that the atavistic bet-hedging strategies in cancer originate from a hijacking of the normal developmental bet-hedging of metazoans. Finally, we discuss the constraints that may shape the atavistic bet-hedging strategies of cancer cells.

Amplification of Ovis aries papillomavirus type 2 DNA from an ovine cutaneous fibropapilloma.

Seven of 60 Perendale sheep within a flock developed single or multiple exophytic masses on their distal hind limbs. A mass was excised from one sheep and histological evaluation revealed epidermal and mesenchymal proliferation, papillomavirus-induced keratinocyte changes and marked keratohyalin clumping. Ovis aries papillomavirus type 2 DNA sequences were amplified using PCR.

Sept des 60 moutons Perendale d'un troupeau ont développé des masses exophytiques uniques ou multiples sur leurs membres postérieurs distaux. Une masse a été excisée sur un mouton et l'évaluation histologique a révélé une prolifération épidermique et mésenchymateuse, des modifications kératinocytaires induites par le papillomavirus et une agglutination marquée de kératohyaline. Les séquences d'ADN du papillomavirus Ovis aries de type 2 ont été amplifiées par PCR.

Sete de 60 ovelhas Perendale de um rebanho desenvolveram massas exofíticas na porção distal dos seus membros posteriores. Uma massa foi removida de uma ovelha e a avaliação histopatológica revelou proliferação mesenquimal e epidérmica, alterações queratinocíticas induzidas por papilomavírus e aglomeração queratohialina. Sequências de papilomavírus Ovis aries tipo 2 foram amplificadas utilizando PCR.

Siete de 60 ovejas Perendale dentro de un rebaño desarrollaron masas exofíticas únicas o múltiples en sus extremidades traseras distales. Se extirpó una masa de una oveja y la evaluación histológica reveló proliferación epidérmica y mesenquimal, cambios de queratinocitos inducidos por el virus del papiloma y marcada acumulación de queratohialina. Mediante PCR se amplificaron secuencias de DNA del virus del papiloma Ovis aries tipo 2.

Human Cytomegalovirus Oncoprotection across Diverse Populations, Tumor Histologies, and Age Groups: The Relevance for Prospective Vaccinal Therapy.

The oncogenicity of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is currently being widely debated. Most recently, mounting clinical evidence suggests an anti-cancer effect via CMV-induced T cell-mediated tumor destruction. However, the data were mostly obtained from single-center studies and in vitro experiments. Broad geographic coverage is required to offer a global perspective. Our study examined the correlation between country-specific CMV seroprevalence (across 73 countries) and the age-standardized incidence rate (of 34 invasive tumors). The populations studied were stratified according to decadal age periods as the immunologic effects of CMV seropositivity may depend upon age at initial infection. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (IARC WHO) database was used. The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a worldwide inverse correlation between CMV seroprevalence and the incidences of 62.8% tumors. Notably, this inverse link persists for all cancers combined (Spearman's ρ = -0.732, p < 0.001; ß = -0.482, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.737). An antithetical and significant correlation was also observed in particular age groups for the vast majority of tumors. Our results corroborate the conclusions of previous studies and indicate that this oncopreventive phenomenon holds true on a global scale. It applies to a wide spectrum of cancer histologies, additionally supporting the idea of a common underlying mechanism-CMV-stimulated T cell tumor targeting. Although these results further advance the notion of CMV-based therapies, in-depth investigation of host-virus interactions is still warranted.