IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Immunological targeting of the endogenous retroviral protein ERVMER34-1 in carcinomas promotes epitope spread and enhances response to PD-L1 blockade

Immunological targeting of the endogenous retroviral protein ERVMER34-1 in carcinomas promotes epitope spread and enhances response to PD-L1 blockade

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Video Summary

The speaker described how endogenous retroviral sequences make up 5–8% of human DNA and can be reactivated in cancers due to epigenetic dysregulation. They identified ERV-MR34-1 as a tumor-associated envelope protein with little expression in healthy tissues but strong expression in many carcinomas. Patient T cells recognized it, and antigen-specific T cells killed ERV-MR34-1–positive tumor cells. An adenoviral vaccine targeting ERV-MR34-1 controlled tumors in mice, especially when combined with checkpoint blockade and later an IL-15 superagonist, which expanded neoepitope-specific T cells and improved tumor control.

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Date April 18, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Room 205

Session Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Immunity

Speaker Duane Hamilton

Track Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

Year 2026

Keywords

endogenous retroviral sequences

ERV-MR34-1

tumor-associated envelope protein

adenoviral vaccine

checkpoint blockade

April 18, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

205

Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Immunity

Duane Hamilton

Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

2026