Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 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

ORFV: a novel oncolytic and immune stimulating parapoxvirus therapeutic

Julia L Rintoul1, Chantal G Lemay, Lee-Hwa Tai

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.

Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy
|January 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Orf virus (ORFV) shows promise as a cancer therapy. This replicating virus activates anti-tumor immune cells, like natural killer (NK) cells, and demonstrates oncolytic potential in preclinical models.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Replicating viruses offer targeted, self-amplifying cancer treatment advantages.
  • Orf virus (ORFV) is a safe, immunogenic parapoxvirus suitable for therapeutic development.
  • ORFV induces a T(h)-1 immune response and can overcome pre-existing antibodies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of live replicating Orf virus (ORFV) as an oncolytic cancer therapeutic.
  • To investigate the immune mechanisms underlying ORFV-mediated anti-tumor activity.
  • To assess the efficacy of ORFV in preclinical cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multiple syngeneic mouse cancer models.
  • Administered live replicating Orf virus (ORFV).
  • Assessed immune cell activation (cytokine-secreting and tumoricidal natural killer [NK] cells) and tumor response.
  • Demonstrated human cancer cell oncolysis and xenograft model efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Live replicating ORFV induced significant anti-tumor immune responses in vivo.
  • The anti-tumor effect was largely mediated by potent activation of cytokine-secreting and tumoricidal NK cells.
  • ORFV demonstrated oncolysis of human cancer cells and efficacy in an A549 xenograft model.

Conclusions:

  • Live replicating Orf virus (ORFV) effectively stimulates anti-tumor immunity.
  • ORFV shows significant potential as a novel oncolytic viral therapy for cancer.
  • The virus's ability to activate NK cells and its oncolytic properties warrant further clinical investigation.

More Related Videos

Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses12:08

Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses

Published on: June 25, 2011

Transarterial Administration of Oncolytic Viruses for Locoregional Therapy of Orthotopic HCC in Rats08:55

Transarterial Administration of Oncolytic Viruses for Locoregional Therapy of Orthotopic HCC in Rats

Published on: April 15, 2016

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.
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...
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...