To test these hypotheses we characterized the expression of MAVS-activating helicases and the RLH/MAVS inhibitor NLRX1 (nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeats (NLR) molecule X1 (NLRX1)31, 32, 33) in unchallenged and tumor challenged mice and the effects of Poly(I:C) on these moieties. The gene discussed is MAVS; the disease is neoplasm.