Consistent with our findings of 5AZADC-triggered IFN-β expression, multiple studies have shown that DNA demethylating agents among other epigenetic modulators can induce a type I IFN response in cancer cells through the de-repression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and activation of the MDA5-MAVS pathway38–40. The gene discussed is IFIH1; the disease is cancer.