Oncolytic viruses Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are oncolytic viruses?
Genetically modified or naturally occurring viruses that selectively infect and kill cancer cells.
What are the core features of oncolytic viruses?
Retain potency, highly selective, and trained to seek and destroy cancer cells.
Why use viruses to treat cancer?
Viruses can selectively replicate in and lyse cancer cells and can stimulate anti-tumour immunity.
Name 4 types of viruses under trial as oncolytic agents.
Adenovirus, Poxvirus, Herpes Simplex Virus 1, Reovirus
What is the first step in engineering a virus for therapy?
Taming the virus – genetically modifying it to reduce toxicity and pathogenicity.
What is the second step in training a virus for cancer therapy?
Engineering it to target cancer-specific markers and optionally express therapeutic molecules.
What is Avβ6 integrin and why is it important in virotherapy?
An epithelial-specific integrin upregulated in cancer; a target for virus specificity.
What is Virus-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (VDEPT)?
A strategy where viruses deliver genes encoding enzymes that convert prodrugs into active drugs at the tumour site.
What model can be used to evaluate virotherapy efficacy in a personalised way?
Patient-derived 3D organoids from healthy and tumour tissues.
What is a benefit of using organoids over 2D cell lines?
Organoids better mimic in vivo tumour architecture and drug response.
What is FCU1 in virotherapy?
A suicide gene used in VDEPT to convert a non-toxic prodrug into a cytotoxic compound.
What are scFv-Fc constructs used for in virotherapy?
To block immune checkpoints (e.g., LAG3, CTLA4) and enhance anti-tumour immunity.
How does scFv-Fc enhance immune response?
By inhibiting interactions like IC-MHC-II, lifting immune suppression in the tumour microenvironment.
What makes oncolytic virotherapy “plug and play”?
Viruses can be engineered with different targeting peptides or therapeutic genes for customisation.
Why might peptide Y be used in glioma virotherapy?
Gliomas may lack Avβ6 but overexpress a different target (TARGET B), which peptide Y can bind to.
What is the role of Ad5null peptide Y virus?
An oncolytic adenovirus engineered to target glioma via peptide Y binding to TARGET B.
