Reprogrammed viruses as cancer therapeutics: targeted, armed and shielded.
Virotherapy is currently undergoing a renaissance, based on our improved understanding of virus biology and genetics and our better knowledge of many different types of cancer. Viruses can be reprogrammed into oncolytic vectors by combining three types of modification: targeting, arming and shielding. Targeting introduces multiple layers of cancer specificity and improves safety and efficacy; arming occurs through the expression of prodrug convertases and cytokines; and coating with polymers and the sequential usage of different envelopes or capsids provides shielding from the host immune response. Virus-based therapeutics are beginning to find their place in cancer clinical practice, in combination with chemotherapy and radiation.
Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MayoClinic, Minnesota 55905, USA. Cattaneo.Roberto@mayo.edu
Roberto
R
Cattaneo
Tanner
T
Miest
Elena V
EV
Shashkova
Michael A
MA
Barry
D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology