The Daily Insight
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What is an oncolytic vaccine?

Oncolytic viruses are ideal platforms for tumor vaccination because they can mediate the direct in situ killing of tumor cells that release a broad array of tumor antigens and alarmins or danger signals thereby cross-priming antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which mediate the indirect killing of uninfected …

How do oncolytic vaccines work?

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are tumor-selective, multi-mechanistic antitumor agents. They kill infected cancer and associated endothelial cells via direct oncolysis, and uninfected cells via tumor vasculature targeting and bystander effect.

Is vaccinia virus oncolytic?

Vaccinia virus is one of the most promising candidate oncolytic viruses due to advantages such as a favorable safety profile with smallpox vaccination history, a large capacity to harbor foreign genes,2 and an ability to infect a broad spectrum of host cells.

What viruses are oncolytic?

A number of viruses including adenovirus, reovirus, measles, herpes simplex, Newcastle disease virus, and vaccinia have been clinically tested as oncolytic agents.

What do oncolytic viruses do?

D. Oncolytic viruses are a form of immunotherapy that uses viruses to infect and destroy cancer cells. Viruses are particles that infect or enter our cells and then use the cell’s genetic machinery to make copies of themselves and subsequently spread to surrounding uninfected cells.

How are oncolytic viruses administered?

(a) Intravenous delivery: When oncolytic viruses are injected into the peripheral vein, they reach tumor lesions in non-specific organs and systems through the circulation system. (b) Intratumoral delivery: When oncolytic viruses are injected into tumors, they have a direct therapeutic effect on the lesion.

Is there a vaccine for vaccinia virus?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed ACAM2000® , (Smallpox [Vaccinia] Vaccine, Live), a replication-competent vaccine, for active immunization against smallpox disease in persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection.