Oncolytic Virotherapy: From Bench to Bedside

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses are naturally occurring or genetically engineered viruses that can replicate preferentially in tumor cells and inhibit tumor growth. These viruses have been considered an effective anticancer strategy in recent years. They mainly function by direct oncolysis, inducing an anticancer immune response and expressing exogenous effector genes. Their multifunctional characteristics indicate good application prospects as cancer therapeutics, especially in combination with other therapies, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively understand the utility of oncolytic viruses in cancer therapeutics. Here, we review the characteristics, antitumor mechanisms, clinical applications, deficiencies and associated solutions, and future prospects of oncolytic viruses.

Oncolytic Viruses: Immunotherapy Drugs for Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors

“…The M1 virus kills cancer cells by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis (Lin et al, 2014). In addition, the capsid protein of an oncolytic virus can also play a direct role in oncolysis (Yang et al, 2021). Engineered A4 virus carrying the TRAIL gene expresses TRAIL protein on the viral surface by linking to the Leu zipper of capsid protein IX (Wang et al, 2016), which can bind to its receptor TRAILR1 (also known as DR4) or TRAILR2 (also known as DR5) to specifically induce apoptosis in cancer cells (Johnstone et al, 2008).…”

An Extensive Review on Preclinical and Clinical Trials of Oncolytic Viruses Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

“…As the disruptions in signaling pathways play a critical role in the alteration of genetics and physiology of tumor cells. Thus, make viruses selective towards aberrant behaving tumor cells ( 109 ). Additionally, the function inability due to the mutations in main protein coding genes of antiviral signaling remarkably contributes to virus replication in tumor cells ( 110 ).…”

Feasibility of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment based on the tumor microenvironment

“…This therapy is a new and promising treatment for many different types of cancer. Oncolytic viruses is able to selectively replicate and destroy tumor cells, causing tumor cell lysis and subsequent release of viral progeny and tumor cell components, and is able to leave healthy cells unharmed ( 66 ). In addition to direct and specific destruction of tumor cells, Oncolytic viruses can also modulate immunity as well as disrupt the tumor vascular system, with multiple effects on the tumor microenvironment ( Figure 2 ).…”