Oncolytic viruses in lung cancer treatment: a review article

Hanie Sakhi1, Mohadeseh Arabi1, Amir Ghaemi2

  • 1Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, 1316943551, Iran.

Immunotherapy
|December 19, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) show promise for treating lung cancer by selectively destroying cancer cells and stimulating immune responses. This review explores their effectiveness and potential as a novel immunotherapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Lung cancer presents a significant global health challenge with high morbidity and therapeutic resistance.
  • There is an urgent need for innovative treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes in lung cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of oncolytic viruses (OVs) as a novel therapeutic approach for lung cancer.
  • To investigate the oncolytic properties of various OV categories and their synergy with existing treatments.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature review of 158 articles published between 1994 and 2022.
  • Data was sourced from prominent scientific databases, including PubMed and Scopus.
  • Analysis focused on the effectiveness of OVs in lung cancer treatment and their interactions with other therapies.

Main Results:

  • Oncolytic viruses demonstrate selective replication within cancer cells, leading to tumor cell lysis.
  • OVs effectively trigger potent anti-tumor immune responses, enhancing their therapeutic potential.
  • Eight distinct categories of OVs were assessed for their oncolytic properties and treatment interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic viruses represent a promising immunotherapy option for lung cancer.
  • Their ability to selectively target cancer cells and elicit immune responses offers a new avenue for treatment.
  • Further research into OV applications could significantly improve lung cancer treatment outcomes.

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