Oncoviruses: An overview of oncogenic and oncolytic viruses

The knowledge of tumor biology has created the potential to develop and understand the mystery of the oncogenic and oncolytic viruses. The facts with viral oncogenesis have surprised the mankind by the development of oncolytic therapy by the viruses themselves. The objective of this paper was to overview the concept of oncogenesis and oncolysis by the deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid viruses. In spite of the fact that viruses indulge in causing cancers, advances are also being made in the field of oncolysis by viral therapy. Although in its infancy, oncolytic viral therapy has already produced some notable successes. The viruses are selectively modified with incorporation and deletion of genes required for them to be tumor-specific. These modified oncolytic viruses are also used in oncolysis of oral cancers by administrating them either intratumorally or systemically. With diverse nature of tumors, some being radio-resistant and another chemo-resistant, the notion of oncolytic viruses being used as adjunct to the conventional treatment modalities is of great significant value. This paper presents an overview of the various aspects of oncogenic and oncolytic viruses in a concise manner with discussion about the mode of administration of oncolytic viruses, their scope and their future potential in treatment of oral cancers.