title: Oncolytic measles virus strains as novel anticancer agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Replication-competent oncolytic measles virus (MV) strains preferentially infect and destroy a wide variety of cancer tissues. Clinical translation of engineered attenuated MV vaccine derivatives is demonstrating the therapeutic potential and negligible pathogenicity of these strains in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review summarizes the mechanisms of MV tumor selectivity and cytopathic activity as well as the current data on the oncolytic efficacy and preclinical testing of MV strains. Investigational strategies to reprogram MV selectivity, escape antiviral immunity and modulate the immune system to enhance viral delivery and tumor oncolysis are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical viral kinetic data derived from noninvasive monitoring of reporter transgene expression will guide future protocols to enhance oncolytic MV efficacy. Anti-measles immunity is a major challenge of measles-based therapeutics and various strategies are being investigated to modulate immunity. These include the combination of MV therapy with immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, the use of cell carriers and the introduction of immunomodulatory transgenes and wild-type virulence genes. Available MV retargeting technologies can address safety considerations that may arise as more potent oncolytic MV vectors are being developed.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Msaouel
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Opyrchal
authors.forename: Evidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domingo Musibay
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galanis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008458:Measles Vaccine