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Updated: May 24, 2026
12:42
Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Radiovirotherapy: principles and prospects in oncology
Y Touchefeu1, P Franken, K J Harrington
1The Institute of Cancer Research, Targeted Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cancer Biology, London, United Kingdom. yann.touchefeu@icr.ac.uk
Current Pharmaceutical Design
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Radiovirotherapy combines oncolytic viruses and radioisotopes for targeted cancer treatment. This innovative approach enhances tumor cell killing through synergistic effects, with ongoing research exploring new isotopes and delivery methods.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Radiochemistry
Background:
- Radiovirotherapy utilizes viruses to deliver radioisotopes specifically to cancer cells.
- Oncolytic viruses selectively infect and destroy tumor cells, offering a targeted therapeutic strategy.
- Combining oncolytic viruses with radiation therapy can create synergistic anti-tumor effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the principles and recent advancements in radiovirotherapy.
- To explore the role of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) in mediating radioisotope uptake.
- To discuss emerging therapeutic isotopes and strategies to overcome immune responses for improved delivery.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on radiovirotherapy and oncolytic viruses.
- Analysis of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene's function in radioisotope delivery.
- Examination of different therapeutic isotopes (e.g., Iodine-131, Astatine-211) and delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Radiovirotherapy demonstrates synergistic anti-tumor properties by combining viral infection and radiation.
- The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) is a key transgene for targeted radioisotope delivery and imaging.
- Early-phase clinical trials show promise for oncolytic virotherapy, with ongoing research into immune response modulation and combination therapies.
Conclusions:
- Radiovirotherapy offers a highly selective approach to cancer treatment by targeting tumor cells with both viruses and radioisotopes.
- Further understanding and manipulation of NIS expression and immune responses are crucial for optimizing radiovirotherapy efficacy.
- Combinatorial approaches involving radiovirotherapy with other cancer treatments hold significant potential for clinical translation.
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