title: Viral warfare! Front-line defence and arming the immune system against cancer using oncolytic vaccinia and other viruses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite mankind's many achievements, we are yet to find a cure for cancer. We are now approaching a new era which recognises the promise of harnessing the immune system for anti-cancer therapy. Pathogens have been implicated for decades as potential anti-cancer agents, but implementation into clinical therapy has been plagued with significant drawbacks. Newer 'designer' agents have addressed some of these concerns, in particular, a new breed of oncolytic virus: JX-594, a genetically engineered pox virus, is showing promise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on the use of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of cancer; both by direct oncolysis and stimulation of the immune system. The review will provide a background and historical progression for the surgeon on tumour immunology, and the interplay between oncolytic viruses, immune cells, inflammation on tumourigenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was performed using the Medline database.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Viral therapeutics hold promise as a novel treatment modality for the treatment of disseminated malignancy. It provides a multi-pronged attack against tumour burden; direct tumour cell lysis, exposure of tumour-associated antigens (TAA), induction of immune danger signals, and recognition by immune effector cells.
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK; Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: R V
authors: RV
authors: Dave
authors: Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: A H S
authors: AH
authors: Jebar
authors: Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: V A
authors: VA
authors: Jennings
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK; Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Adair
authors: Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: West
authors: Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Errington-Mais
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Toogood
authors: Targeted and Biological Therapies, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: A.A.Melcher@leeds.ac.uk.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Melcher
mesh_terms: D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines
keywords: JX-594; Oncolytic virus; Reovirus; Tumour immunology