The present invention generally relates to treatments for tumors, including but not limited to intestinal tumors. The invention particularly relates to the use of inflammasome activators, including but not limited to papilloma pseudoviruses and papilloma virus-like particles (VLP), to induce tumor regression in a patient.
As a component of gut mucosa, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) absorb nutrients, provide a niche for commensal bacteria, and prevent invasion of harmful pathogens. However, when the biogenesis of IECs is dysregulated, which may occur as a result of an inherited genetic mutation, it can lead to the development of intestinal tumors. Conventional tumor vaccines aiming at inducing tumor-antigen specific immunity have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials, which may be due to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in the tumors.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial if a method were available that was capable of treating intestinal tumors by initiating an effective anti-tumor immune response.