The National Cancer Institute defines an oncolytic virus as a type of virus that infects and lyses (breaks down) cancer cells but not normal cells.
These type of viruses are naturally present in the body and also can be manufactured in the laboratory by adjusting other viruses. Because of the nature of oncolytic viruses, they are being studied for use in the treatment of cancer.
Oncolytic virus therapy may be easier to treat cancerous cells with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemo and radiation therapy have complicated side effects that virus therapy does not have.
Can a virus fight cancer?
Two Ottawa researchers are taking innovative approaches to improving virus-based cancer therapy with new funding from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Viruses that selectively target and kill cancer cells, oncolytic viruses, are an exciting new avenue for treating cancer because healthy cells are spared and side effects are reduced. The problem is that many tumors are able to protect themselves by unleashing defense mechanisms that disarm these viruses.
Two researchers are each tackling this problem with creative approaches that involve delivering the viruses in combination with new drugs to make the treatments more effective than either would be alone.
Dr Jean-Simon Diallo of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is receiving $200,000 to study the use of a specially engineered virus given in combination with a novel type of drug to help the virus overcome the tumor's defense mechanisms. Using a unique mathematical model, he will use results from this newly funded research to predict the success of other drug-virus combinations.
These type of viruses are naturally present in the body and also can be manufactured in the laboratory by adjusting other viruses. Because of the nature of oncolytic viruses, they are being studied for use in the treatment of cancer.
Oncolytic virus therapy may be easier to treat cancerous cells with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemo and radiation therapy have complicated side effects that virus therapy does not have.
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| Simplified model for oncolytic viruses. A virus engineered to preferentially replicate in tumor cells is delivered to a tumor. The selectivity for tumor cells may be conferred by targeted infection to tumor cell receptors or by making initiation of the virus replication cycle dependent on tumor cell specific conditions. Image: Nature Biotechnology, ©Rebecca Henretta |
Can a virus fight cancer?
Two Ottawa researchers are taking innovative approaches to improving virus-based cancer therapy with new funding from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Viruses that selectively target and kill cancer cells, oncolytic viruses, are an exciting new avenue for treating cancer because healthy cells are spared and side effects are reduced. The problem is that many tumors are able to protect themselves by unleashing defense mechanisms that disarm these viruses.
Two researchers are each tackling this problem with creative approaches that involve delivering the viruses in combination with new drugs to make the treatments more effective than either would be alone.
Dr Jean-Simon Diallo of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is receiving $200,000 to study the use of a specially engineered virus given in combination with a novel type of drug to help the virus overcome the tumor's defense mechanisms. Using a unique mathematical model, he will use results from this newly funded research to predict the success of other drug-virus combinations.
