Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
12:42

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

Published on: January 7, 2019

Innate immunity, tumor microenvironment and oncolytic virus therapy: friends or foes?

Marianne M Stanford1, Caroline J Breitbach, John C Bell

  • 1Ottawa Health Research Institute, Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada..

Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics
|January 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy shows promise for cancer treatment. This review explores how the immune system

Area of Science:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy
  • Immunology
  • Cancer biology

Background:

  • Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy utilizes viruses to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells.
  • The tumor microenvironment, particularly innate immune responses, significantly influences OV therapy outcomes.
  • Inflammation and innate immunity can both promote tumor destruction and impede viral spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dual role of inflammation and innate immunity in OV therapy.
  • To discuss how these immune components can facilitate or hinder oncolytic virotherapy.
  • To explore novel strategies for modulating the immune system to enhance OV efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of oncolytic virus therapy.
  • Analysis of the interplay between innate immunity, inflammation, and OV candidates.
  • Discussion of immune-modulatory approaches in virotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Innate immunity and inflammation present a complex, often opposing, influence on OV therapy.
  • These immune responses can enhance tumor cell lysis but also lead to premature viral clearance.
  • Current OV candidates are significantly impacted by these microenvironmental factors.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding and manipulating innate immunity and inflammation are crucial for successful OV therapy.
  • Novel strategies aim to harness immune responses to improve viral dissemination and tumor targeting.
  • Optimizing the host-pathogen-tumor interaction is key to advancing oncolytic virotherapy.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells09:04

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells

Published on: March 7, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...