Oncolysis

Oncolysis is the process by which cancer cells are destroyed by viruses. This can occur naturally, but it can also be part of a treatment known as oncolytic virotherapy.

History

The concept of oncolysis has been known since the early 20th century when it was observed that some cancer patients who contracted a viral infection showed signs of improvement. This led to the development of oncolytic virotherapy, a form of cancer therapy that uses viruses to destroy cancer cells.

Mechanism

Oncolytic viruses are able to selectively infect and kill cancer cells without harming normal cells. This is achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including the ability of the virus to replicate within the cancer cell, leading to cell lysis, and the induction of an immune response against the cancer cell.

Oncolytic Virotherapy

Oncolytic virotherapy is a form of cancer therapy that uses oncolytic viruses to destroy cancer cells. This can be achieved through direct oncolysis, where the virus infects and kills the cancer cell, or through the induction of an immune response against the cancer cell.

Clinical Trials

Several oncolytic viruses are currently being tested in clinical trials for their effectiveness in treating various types of cancer. These include the herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, and vesicular stomatitis virus.

See Also

• Cancer
• Virus
• Cancer therapy
• Clinical trial

Oncolysis Resources
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