An old leukaemia drug reveals a new power: activating the innate defence of the immune system

A study published in Frontiers in Immunology shows that Teniposide, an old drug used to treat childhood leukaemia, could be used in immunotherapy due to its ability to directly and indirectly activate a key protein in the immune response. The research, involving the University of Zaragoza and Adrián Velázquez Campoy’s team, reveals that the drug triggers interferon and opens the door to new immunotherapies against cancer and infections.

Publication website:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1677836/full

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1677836

Article: Arranz-Herrero J, Marquez-Cantudo L, Rius-Rocabert S, Buey RM, Velazquez-Campoy A, Tur-Planells V, Garcia-Sastre A, Miorin L, de Pascual-Teresa B, Coderch C, Nistal-Villan E. STING activation by teniposide: a potential direct mechanism beyond cGAS stimulation. Front Immunol. 2026 Jan 2;16:1677836. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1677836