Immunotherapeutic potential of oncolytic vaccinia virus.

There has recently been resurgence in interest for the use of replication-selective (oncolytic) viruses for the treatment of cancers. This has been fueled by positive clinical data and the promise provided by next-generation vectors that are better targeted and display enhanced therapeutic potential. One factor that has led to more effective oncolytic vectors has been a greater appreciation of their immunotherapeutic potential. This is especially true for strains of vaccinia virus, where the capability for rapid and destructive spread through a target tissue makes this virus the ideal backbone for an oncolytic agent, while its known ability to produce a potent immune response makes it a powerful immunotherapeutic. Approaches to developing next-generation vectors that are capable of effectively harnessing both of these mechanisms of action are discussed here.