Optimizing oncolytic reovirus therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: A single dose enhances immune modulation and tumor delivery

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have a multi-modal capability to cause death of cancer cells, while sparing normal cells; their primary mechanism of action being immune-mediated killing of tumor cells. Viral infection and subsequent lysis of tumor cells results in the release of cellular components, which activates the peripheral immune system. Upon activation, immune cells release inflammatory factors, such as interferons (IFNs), which induce a proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine milieu to drive both a rapid (innate) and prolonged (adaptive) antigen-specific response against malignant T cells, including migration of activated cells to the site of inflammation, i.e., the tumor site.