Definition
Oncolytic viruses are viruses that replicate (multiply themselves) selectively in cancer cells and are attenuated (crippled) in normal cells and as a result destroy cancer cells (“onco” cancer, “lysis” cell destruction through necrosis) and tumors with minimal toxicity to normal cells and tissues.
Characteristics
Therapeutic oncolytic viruses (virotherapeutics) constitute a platform of targeted anticancer agents that have unique mechanisms of action compared with other cancer therapeutics, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Oncolytic viruses are viruses that replicate (multiply themselves) selectively in cancer cells and are attenuated (crippled) in normal cells and as a result destroy cancer cells and tumors with minimal toxicity to normal cells and tissues. The development of virotherapeutics has evolved from the use of in vitro-passaged strains (first generation), to genetically...
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References
Kirn D et al (2001) Replication-selective virotherapy for cancer: biological principles, risk management and future directions. Nat Med 7:781–787
Liu T et al (2007) Clinical trial results with oncolytic virotherapy: a century of promise, a decade of progress. Nat Clin Pract Oncol 4:101–117
Parato K et al (2006) Recent progress in the battle between oncolytic viruses and tumors. Nat Rev Cancer 5:965–976
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Kirn, D. (2015). Oncolytic Virus. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4231-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4231-5
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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