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Updated: Jun 28, 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

Reovirus therapy in cancer: has the orphan virus found a home?

Timothy A Yap1, Andre Brunetto, Hardev Pandha

  • 1The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK.

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|November 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Reovirus, a wild type virus, shows promise as an anticancer therapy due to its selective tumor cell destruction in cancers with active Ras pathways. Clinical trials are evaluating Reolysin for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy
  • Cancer therapeutics
  • Viral oncology

Background:

  • Oncolytic viruses selectively destroy tumor cells, offering a promising cancer treatment strategy.
  • Reovirus exhibits inherent tumor cytotoxicity, particularly in cancers with activated Ras signaling pathways.
  • Reovirus infections are generally well-tolerated with minimal symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the potential of reovirus as an anticancer agent.
  • To address challenges in oncolytic virus therapy, including toxicity, selectivity, and immune response.
  • To provide an update on clinical studies involving Reolysin (human reovirus serotype 3 Dearing).

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on reovirus as an oncolytic virus.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for Reolysin.
  • Evaluation of Reolysin's efficacy and safety in preclinical and clinical settings.

Main Results:

  • Reovirus demonstrates selective tumor cell killing, especially in Ras-activated cancers.
  • Reovirus therapy is associated with benign infections and few side effects.
  • Phase I clinical trials of intravenous Reolysin have been completed.

Conclusions:

  • Reovirus holds substantial potential as an effective anticancer agent.
  • Ongoing clinical trials are investigating Reolysin's use alone and in combination therapies.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges and optimize oncolytic virus therapy.

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