[Oncolytic viruses: Actors and deliverers of therapeutic proteins against tumors]

Ana Houel1, Johann Foloppe2

  • 1UMRS 1 135 Sorbonne université, Paris, France - Inserm U1135, Paris, France - Équipe « Microenvironnement immunitaire et immunothérapie », centre d'immunologie et des maladies infectieuses (Cimi), faculté de médecine, Sorbonne université, Paris, France - Transgene, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France.

Medecine Sciences : M/S
|November 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic viruses (OV) are engineered to target cancer cells, enhancing immunotherapy by delivering therapeutic molecules directly to tumors. Research focuses on improving OV effectiveness and delivery for better cancer treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Context:

  • Viruses naturally target cancer cells, offering a basis for novel cancer therapies.
  • Oncolytic viruses (OV) are being explored as a promising avenue in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Genetic modification of OV allows for targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules within the tumor microenvironment.

Purpose:

  • To explore the potential of oncolytic viruses (OV) as vectors for cancer immunotherapy.
  • To enhance antitumor responses by utilizing OV to express therapeutic molecules directly in tumors.
  • To investigate strategies for improving OV efficacy, including overcoming immune system neutralization and enhancing tumor delivery.

Summary:

  • Oncolytic viruses (OV) demonstrate a unique ability to selectively infect and lyse cancer cells.
  • Genetically engineered OV can express therapeutic molecules, augmenting antitumor immune responses and reducing systemic side effects.
  • Current research aims to prolong OV persistence and improve their infiltration into tumor tissues.

Impact:

  • Oncolytic virus therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Targeted delivery of therapeutics via OV offers a more effective and safer treatment modality.
  • Ongoing research promises to optimize OV-based treatments for improved patient outcomes in oncology.

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.
529
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...
7.7K
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...
376
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...
7.6K
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
25.4K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
923