Loss of ARID1A ‘loops’ in STING

In a recent article, Maxwell et al. report that loss of tumor cell-specific AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A), a component of the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complex, triggers antitumor immunity via R-loop-mediated upregulation of the type-I interferon (IFN) pathway. These recent findings uncover a molecular mechanism underlying improved responses to immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) seen in patients harboring an ARID1A loss-of-function mutation.