Viruses as Cancer Treatment: Exploring Potentials
Oncolytic viruses, engineered to target and destroy cancer cells, represent an emerging form of cancer therapy. Researcher Professor Dorothee von Laer explains their mechanisms and future prospects.
Genetically modified viruses designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells are gaining traction as a novel approach to cancer treatment. The first oncolytic virus received marketing authorization in Europe in 2015, with numerous other candidates currently under development.
Professor Dorothee von Laer, Director of the Institute of Virology at the Medical University of Innsbruck, elaborates that oncolytic viruses infect and replicate within tumor cells, leading to their destruction. The term "oncolytic" literally means "to destroy cancer."
These viruses, either naturally occurring or engineered, are designed to replicate exclusively within cancerous cells. Unlike common viruses, healthy human cells can effectively resist or suppress the replication of oncolytic viruses. Cancer cells often exhibit a higher metabolic rate and may lack the innate antiviral defenses present in normal cells, making them more susceptible targets.
The application of oncolytic viruses is also being explored in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy and specific cancer vaccines. They can aid in stimulating the immune system to combat cancer, and their combination with other immunomodulatory treatments may significantly enhance therapeutic outcomes.