The application of oncolytic viruses in cancer therapy

Yang Gao1, Yan Wu1, Tian Huan1

  • 1School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.

Biotechnology Letters
|August 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic virus therapy engineers viruses to target and destroy cancer cells. This review explores advancements in oncolytic virotherapy for improved tumor treatment and management.

Area of Science:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy
  • Cancer biology
  • Molecular virology

Background:

  • Oncolytic therapy utilizes genetically modified viruses to selectively infect and kill cancer cells.
  • Viruses exploit abnormal cancer cell signaling pathways for replication and tumor lysis.
  • Current research focuses on enhancing oncolytic virus efficacy and safety through biomolecular technology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current progress in oncolytic virus therapy for cancer treatment.
  • To summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying oncolytic virus activity.
  • To discuss advancements in transforming oncolytic viruses for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical studies and biomolecular advancements.
  • Analysis of genetic modification techniques for oncolytic viruses.
  • Examination of molecular mechanisms of viral replication and tumor cell interaction.

Main Results:

  • Oncolytic viruses demonstrate selective replication in tumor cells, leading to cell death.
  • Biomolecular engineering enhances oncolytic virus potency and reduces adverse effects.
  • Significant progress has been made in clinical applications of oncolytic virotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic virus therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into molecular mechanisms will optimize therapeutic strategies.
  • Continued development of biomolecular technologies will improve oncolytic virus efficacy and safety.

Related Concept Videos

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...
8.6K
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.
771
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...
574
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.0K
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
5.4K
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...
5.6K