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IRF1 (interferon regulatory factor 1) is a transcription factor
induced by interferons, pattern-recognition signalling, inflammatory cytokines
and DNA damage. IRF1 activates genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity,
antigen processing and presentation, growth arrest and programmed cell death.
In many cancers, IRF1 expression or function is reduced, deleted or inhibited,
which can weaken tumour immune surveillance and permit proliferation, survival
and treatment resistance. Restoration or activation of IRF1 can increase MHC
class I antigen presentation, support cytotoxic immune responses, induce
cell-cycle arrest and promote apoptosis or other inflammatory forms of tumour-cell
death. The typical cancer-associated direction is therefore commonly
down or functionally suppressed, while the desired anticancer
modulation is generally up or restoration of IRF1 activity.
However, because IRF1 also regulates inflammatory and immune-checkpoint genes,
its effects can vary with tumour type and immune context.
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