2018
Overview
Oncolytic viruses are viruses that selectively infect, replicate within, and destroy cancer cells while largely sparing healthy tissue, representing a distinctive approach to cancer therapy. They exploit differences between malignant and normal cells, such as altered antiviral signaling and increased susceptibility to viral replication, to preferentially lyse tumor cells. Beyond direct destruction of infected cancer cells, oncolytic viruses can stimulate the immune system by releasing tumor antigens and danger signals, helping to provoke a broader anti-tumor immune response. Both naturally occurring and genetically engineered viruses have been investigated for this purpose, with engineering used to enhance tumor selectivity, reduce toxicity, and arm the virus with therapeutic genes. As a form of immunotherapy and targeted treatment, oncolytic virotherapy is studied across a range of cancers, often in combination with other modalities. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to oncolytic virotherapy. Listed work includes a review titled "Oncolytic Viruses: Can be Applicable Tools for Cancer Therapy?", which examines the rationale, mechanisms, and potential of oncolytic viruses as agents in oncology. Such research reflects ongoing interest in harnessing viral biology to selectively target malignancies while engaging the body's own immune defenses against cancer.
Research published in this journal
1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.