Progress of Oncolytic Virus

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses have made tremendous advances in fundamental research and clinical trials in recent years as potential anti-cancer medications. Oncolytic viruses, which are either genetically modified or naturally occurring, can kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells. At present, surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy are the current conventional tumor treatment methods, but the curative effect is still not good for most cancer patients, especially at advanced stages of cancer. With the rapid development of molecular biology, viral vectors that can activate the body’s immune system have become increasingly popular as a means of enhancing anti-tumor efficacy. Increasing numbers of natural viruses are being generated and manipulated to enhance their infectivity or immunological activity against tumor cells. An oncolytic virus is a biologically effective preparation that performs its function by entering the body via an intra-tumor injection, intravenous or intraspinal drip, and other routes. Oncolytic viruses has the potential to treat solid tumors as well as non-solid tumors. They can selectively replicate and proliferate in tumor cells, which activates the immune system against the tumor of the host and recruits more efficient lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, thereby killing tumor cells. Moreover, it shows broad clinical application prospects.