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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Oncolytic viruses and pancreatic cancer
Vahideh Hamidi-Sofiani1, Reza Rakhshi2, Niloufar Moradi2
1Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Background:
Today, the pancreatic cancer prognosis is poor and genetic technology is developing to treat various types of cancers. Scientists are actively looking for a new technique to design a therapeutic strategy to treat pancreatic cancer. Several oncolytic viruses are known to be valuable tools for pancreatic cancer treatment. Recent Studies demonstrate their effectiveness and safety in various administration routes such as direct intratumoral, intracutaneous, intravascular, and other routes.
Method:
In this study, all studies conducted in the past 20 years have been reviewed. Reputable scientific databases including Irandoc, Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed, are searched for the keywords of Pancreatic cancer, oncolytic, viruses and treatment and the latest information about them is obtained.
Results:
Engineering the oncolytic viruses' genome and insertion of intended transgenes including cytokines or shRNAs, has caused promising promotions in pancreatic cancer treatment. Some oncolytic viruses inhibit tumors directly and some through activation of immune responses.
Conclusion:
This approach showed some signs of success in efficiency like immune system activation in the tumor environment, effective virus targeting in the tumor cells by systemic administration, and enhanced patient survival in comparison with the control group. But of course, until now, using these oncolytic viruses alone has not been effective in elimination of tumors.
Insights
Oncolytic viruses show promise for pancreatic cancer treatment by activating immune responses and targeting tumors. While effective in enhancing survival, they are not yet a standalone cure.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Oncolytic viruses are emerging as valuable tools for treating various cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
- Studies demonstrate the safety and efficacy of oncolytic viruses via multiple administration routes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in oncolytic virus therapy for pancreatic cancer.
- To synthesize information on the effectiveness and mechanisms of oncolytic viruses in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review of studies from the past 20 years.
- Searches conducted across major scientific databases (Irandoc, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed).
- Keywords used: Pancreatic cancer, oncolytic, viruses, treatment.
Main Results:
- Engineering oncolytic virus genomes with transgenes (cytokines, shRNAs) shows promise.
- Oncolytic viruses can directly inhibit tumors or activate immune responses against them.
- Successful immune system activation within the tumor microenvironment observed.
Conclusions:
- Oncolytic viruses demonstrate potential in pancreatic cancer treatment through immune activation and tumor targeting.
- Systemic administration allows effective virus targeting of tumor cells, enhancing patient survival.
- Current oncolytic virus monotherapy has not yet achieved complete tumor elimination.
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