Viruses 2010, 2(1), 78-106; doi:10.3390/v2010078
Review

Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy: Overcoming the Obstacles

Han Hsi Wong 1 email, Nicholas R. Lemoine 1,2 email and Yaohe Wang 1,2,* email
1 Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging, Institute of Cancer, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK 2 Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 28 October 2009; in revised form: 2 January 2010 / Accepted: 6 January 2010 / Published: 11 January 2010
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Viral Vector Systems for Gene Therapy)
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Abstract: Targeted therapy of cancer using oncolytic viruses has generated much interest over the past few years in the light of the limited efficacy and side effects of standard cancer therapeutics for advanced disease. In 2006, the world witnessed the first government-approved oncolytic virus for the treatment of head and neck cancer. It has been known for many years that viruses have the ability to replicate in and lyse cancer cells. Although encouraging results have been demonstrated in vitro and in animal models, most oncolytic viruses have failed to impress in the clinical setting. The explanation is multifactorial, determined by the complex interactions between the tumor and its microenvironment, the virus, and the host immune response. This review focuses on discussion of the obstacles that oncolytic virotherapy faces and recent advances made to overcome them, with particular reference to adenoviruses.
Keywords: oncolytic virus; adenovirus; vaccinia virus; cancer gene; host immune response

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Wong, H.H.; Lemoine, N.R.; Wang, Y. Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy: Overcoming the Obstacles. Viruses 2010, 2, 78-106.

AMA Style

Wong HH, Lemoine NR, Wang Y. Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy: Overcoming the Obstacles. Viruses. 2010; 2(1):78-106.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wong, Han Hsi; Lemoine, Nicholas R.; Wang, Yaohe. 2010. "Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy: Overcoming the Obstacles." Viruses 2, no. 1: 78-106.

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