ONCOLYTIC VIRUSES (OVs)

Why in news?

A new study published in the journal Cancer Cell suggests that the body’s immune capacity against cancer to recognise and destroy cancer cells can be boosted by using oncolytic viruses.

Key takeaways

• Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are viruses that selectively target and kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones.
• The study notes that these viruses also enhance the immune system’s ability to recognise and terminate cancer cells.
• Although long theorised, the research into oncolytic virotherapy picked up only in the 1960s. Of late, there have been several trials looking at different viruses for cancer treatment.
• The latest study focused on the virus known as myxoma and it found that T-cells infected with the myxoma virus can lead to a type of cancer cell death not previously observed.
• The research claims to “uncover an unexpected synergy between T-cells and MYXV (myxoma virus) to bolster solid tumour cell autosis that reinforces tumor clearance”.

Autosis is a form of cell destruction that is useful against solid tumors, which are seen as treatment-resistant.

Myxoma can target and kill cancer cells directly, but using myxoma-equipped T-cells works well as cancerous cells in the vicinity of those targeted are also destroyed. This process is called bystander killing.

The study makes the case that immunotherapy combined with virotherapy holds the potential to seek and destroy ‘cold tumours’ that fly under the immune system’s radar.