Dave RV, Jebar AHS, Jennings VA, Adair RA, West EJ, Errington-Mais F, Toogood GJ, Melcher AA. Viral warfare! Front-line defence and arming the immune system against cancer using oncolytic vaccinia and other viruses.
Surgeon 2014;
12:210-20. [PMID:
24502935 DOI:
10.1016/j.surge.2014.01.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Despite mankind's many achievements, we are yet to find a cure for cancer. We are now approaching a new era which recognises the promise of harnessing the immune system for anti-cancer therapy. Pathogens have been implicated for decades as potential anti-cancer agents, but implementation into clinical therapy has been plagued with significant drawbacks. Newer 'designer' agents have addressed some of these concerns, in particular, a new breed of oncolytic virus: JX-594, a genetically engineered pox virus, is showing promise.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current literature on the use of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of cancer; both by direct oncolysis and stimulation of the immune system. The review will provide a background and historical progression for the surgeon on tumour immunology, and the interplay between oncolytic viruses, immune cells, inflammation on tumourigenesis.
METHODS
A literature review was performed using the Medline database.
CONCLUSIONS
Viral therapeutics hold promise as a novel treatment modality for the treatment of disseminated malignancy. It provides a multi-pronged attack against tumour burden; direct tumour cell lysis, exposure of tumour-associated antigens (TAA), induction of immune danger signals, and recognition by immune effector cells.
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