title: RNA viruses as virotherapy agents.
abstract: RNA viruses are rapidly emerging as extraordinarily promising agents for oncolytic virotherapy. Integral to the lifecycles of all RNA viruses is the formation of double-stranded RNA, which activates a spectrum of cellular defense mechanisms including the activation of PKR and the release of interferon. Tumors are frequently defective in their PKR signaling and interferon response pathways, and therefore provide a relatively permissive substrate for the propagation of RNA viruses. For most of the oncolytic RNA viruses currently under study, tumor specificity is either a natural characteristic of the virus, or a serendipitous consequence of adapting the virus to propagate in human tumor cell lines. Further refinement and optimization of these oncolytic agents can be achieved through virus engineering. This article provides a summary of the current status of oncolytic virotherapy efforts for seven different RNA viruses, namely, mumps, Newcastle disease virus, measles virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, influenza, reovirus, and poliovirus.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. sjr@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents