Viral Mimicry by Repeats Mediates Evolutionary Trade-offs in Cancer-Immune Co-Evolution

During cancer evolution, de-repressed repetitive elements (REs) can trigger innate immune responses via "viral mimicry", imposing selective immune pressure on emerging tumor cells. We propose that RE mimics mediate transitions from initial anti-tumorigenic immune selection to a tolerized equilibrium shaped by trade-offs that can ultimately be predicted and exploited therapeutically.