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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy
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Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy

Published on: April 3, 2018

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Reovirus oncolysis and the next frontiers for this unique oncoviral immunotherapy

Negar Sharifi1, Amir Emamie2, Nastaran Rafiee3

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Seminars in Immunology
|October 1, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Reovirus, a promising oncolytic virus, shows potential in cancer immunotherapy by targeting cancer cells and stimulating the immune system. Advances in delivery and engineering enhance its safety and efficacy for future cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Reovirus is a clinically investigated oncolytic virus with a strong safety profile.
  • It preferentially replicates in malignant cells with minimal toxicity to normal tissues.
  • Reovirus has demonstrated immunostimulatory properties, making it attractive for cancer immunotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in reovirus-based virotherapy.
  • To explore emerging strategies for enhancing reovirus therapeutic potential.
  • To highlight reovirus as a next-generation immunotherapeutic platform.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and scientific literature on reovirus.
  • Analysis of reovirus's mechanisms of action, including direct oncolysis and immune activation.
  • Evaluation of novel delivery systems and genetic engineering approaches.

Main Results:

  • Reovirus demonstrates potential beyond direct tumor cell killing, including tumor microenvironment modulation and immune system activation.
  • Reovirus synergizes with conventional cancer therapies like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Advances in delivery methods (oral, nanoparticle, stem cell-mediated) and genetic engineering improve reovirus safety, targeting, and efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Reovirus is a promising candidate for cancer immunotherapy due to its oncolytic activity, safety profile, and immunostimulatory effects.
  • Emerging strategies are expanding reovirus's therapeutic applications and enhancing its clinical utility.
  • Reovirus represents a versatile platform for developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
Keywords:
CancerCombination therapyImmunotherapyOncolytic virusReovirus

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