title: The case of oncolytic viruses versus the immune system: waiting on the judgment of Solomon.
abstract: The three-way interaction between oncolytic viruses, the tumor microenvironment, and the immune system is critical to the outcome of antitumor therapy. Classically, the immune system is thought to limit the efficacy of therapy, leading to viral clearance. However, preclinical and clinical data suggest that in some cases virotherapy may in fact act as cancer immunotherapy. In this review we discuss the ability of oncolytic viruses to alter the immunogenic milieu of the tumor microenvironment, and the role of innate and adaptive immunity in both restricting and augmenting therapy. Strategies to improve virotherapy by immunomodulation, including suppression or enhancement of the innate and adaptive responses, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Prestwich
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Hardev S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Pandha
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Melcher
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Vile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition