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Updated: May 22, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
[Measles virus: a future therapeutic agent in oncology?]
Yann Touchefeu1, Ulrike Schick, Kevin J Harrington
1The Institute of cancer research, division of cancer biology, targeted therapy laboratory, 237 Fulham road, London SW3 6JB. yann.touchefeu@icr.ac.uk
Abstract:
Measles is a potential lethal disease, justifying large immunization campaigns. Attenuated strains are used in immunization with very good safety records. Interestingly, following clinical observations of tumor regressions after measles infection, preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted the therapeutic potential of attenuated strains of measles. The aim of this review is to explain how these viruses can selectively infect and kill cancer cells, and how this selectivity can be improved. We will detail the therapeutic strategies under development, in particular the combination of viruses with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Furthermore, the engineering of measles viruses encoding the sodium/iodide symporter could enable virus-directed radio-isotope therapy. Antiviral immunity could be a limit of measles therapy. We will highlight the promising combinations with immunosuppressive drugs and innovative strategies using infected cell carriers, aiming at circumventing the immune response and paving the way to future clinical trials.
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