Regional liver therapy using oncolytic virus to target hepatic colorectal metastases.

The mortality of colorectal carcinoma often results from the progression of metastatic disease, which is predominantly hepatic. Although recent advances in surgical, locoregional, and systemic therapies have yielded modest improvements in survival, treatment of these aggressive lesions is limited to palliation for the vast majority of patients. Oncolytic viral therapy represents a promising novel therapeutic modality that has achieved tumor regression in several preclinical and clinical models. Evidence further suggests that locoregional viral administration may improve viral efficacy while minimizing toxicity. This study will review the theories behind hepatic arterial infusion of oncolytic virus, as well as herpes viral design, preclinical data, and clinical progress in regional liver therapy using oncolytic virus to treat hepatic colorectal carcinoma metastases. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.