Please stand by: how oncolytic viruses impact bystander cells.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) do more than simply infect and kill host cells. The accepted mechanism of action for OVs consists of a primary lytic phase and a subsequent antitumor and antiviral immune response. However, not all cells are subject to the direct effects of OV therapy, and it is becoming clear that OVs can also impact uninfected cells in the periphery.

High Mobility Group Box 1 Influences HSV1716 Spread and Acts as an Adjuvant to Chemotherapy.

High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a multifunctional protein that plays various roles in the processes of inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. Many reports document abundant HMGB1 release following infection with oncolytic viruses (OVs). Further, other groups including previous reports from our laboratory highlight the synergistic effects of OVs with chemotherapy drugs.

8th international conference on oncolytic virus therapeutics.

The 8th International Conference on Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics meeting was held from April 10-13, 2014, in Oxford, United Kingdom. It brought together experts in the field of oncolytics from Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas and provided a unique opportunity to hear the latest research findings in oncolytic virotherapy. Presentations of recent work were delivered in an informal and intimate setting afforded by a small group of attendees and an exquisitely focused conference topic.

Potent efficacy signals from systemically administered oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV1716) in hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft models.

Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV1716), lacking the neurovirulence factor ICP34.5, has highly selective replication competence for cancer cells and has been used in clinical studies of glioma, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, pediatric non-central nervous system solid tumors, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. To date, 88 patients have received HSV1716 and the virus is well tolerated, with selective replication in tumor cells and no spread to surrounding normal tissue.

Oncolytic herpes viruses, chemotherapeutics, and other cancer drugs.

Oncolytic viruses are emerging as a potential new way of treating cancers. They are selectively replication-competent viruses that propagate only in actively dividing tumor cells but not in normal cells and, as a result, destroy the tumor cells by consequence of lytic infection. At least six different oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) have undergone clinical trials worldwide to date, and they have demonstrated an excellent safety profile and intimations of efficacy.

In vivo evaluation of a cancer therapy strategy combining HSV1716-mediated oncolysis with gene transfer and targeted radiotherapy.

Unlabelled: Oncolytic herpes viruses show promise for cancer treatment. However, it is unlikely that they will fulfill their therapeutic potential when used as monotherapies. An alternative strategy is to use these viruses not only as oncolytic agents but also as a delivery mechanism of therapeutic transgenes to enhance tumor cell killing.

Antitumor activity of a selectively replication competent herpes simplex virus (HSV) with enzyme prodrug therapy.

Background: HSV1790 is an oncolytic virus generated by inserting the enzyme nitroreductase (NTR) into the virus HSV1716. NTR converts the prodrug CB1954 into an active alkylating agent.

Materials And Methods: In vitro, 3T6 cells (non permissive to HSV) were used in order to distinguish between virus-induced cytopathic effect and cell death due to activated prodrug.