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Updated: May 27, 2025

Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses
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Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses

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From infection to remedy: Harnessing oncolytic viruses in cancer treatment

Sramona Kar1, Sanjana Mehrotra2, Vijay Kumar Prajapati1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India.

Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology
|February 20, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy offers a promising, targeted approach for advanced cancers, showing high efficacy and fewer side effects. This review covers OV engineering, mechanisms, clinical progress, challenges, and combination therapies for improved tumor clearance and survival.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Conventional cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation often fail for higher-grade cancers.
  • Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are engineered to selectively target and destroy cancer cells, offering a novel therapeutic strategy.
  • Preclinical and clinical studies support the efficacy and reduced side effects of OV-mediated immunotherapy compared to traditional treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the modifications, strains, and mechanisms of oncolytic viruses (OVs) used in cancer therapy.
  • To discuss the progress of OVs in preclinical and clinical trials, including case studies.
  • To highlight challenges associated with OVs, such as patient pathogen exposure and potential immune recall responses, and explore future perspectives in combination therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on oncolytic virus (OV) therapy.
  • Analysis of modifications and engineering strategies for oncolytic viruses.
  • Examination of preclinical and clinical trial data, including case studies.
  • Discussion of viral mechanisms for tumor targeting and eradication.
  • Exploration of challenges and combination therapy approaches.

Main Results:

  • Oncolytic viruses (OVs) demonstrate high efficacy and fewer side effects in treating advanced cancers.
  • Engineered OVs selectively target and eradicate malignant cells.
  • Case studies show progress in preclinical and clinical trials for OV therapies.
  • Challenges include patient-specific factors like pathogen exposure and potential non-specific immune responses.
  • Combination therapies offer advantages in tumor clearance, metastasis blocking, and patient survival.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy is a potent tool for treating refractory cancers.
  • Further research and development are needed to overcome challenges and optimize OV therapy.
  • Combination strategies involving OVs hold significant promise for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes and patient survival.
Keywords:
CancerGenetically modified virusImmunotherapyOncolytic virus

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