Author(s)

Zhihang Chen, Kiju Kwon

Corresponding Author

Zhihang Chen

ABSTRACT

In the past few decades, immunotherapy has been considered one of the most promising cancer treatments. Oncolytic virus therapy is one of the major breakthroughs in immunotherapy. Oncolytic viruses are defined as genetically engineered or naturally occurring viruses that selectively replicate and kill cancer cells without harming normal tissues. In this review we present systematic review of 108 clinical trials on oncolytic viruses during the past 20 years. We focus on reviewing trials for their targeted cancer type, methods of virus administration, adverse effect and safety examination, antitumor immune response, antiviral immune response and antitumor activity. Oncolytic virus backbones and delivery methods of the five most common cancers were also evaluated.

KEYWORDS

Oncolytic viruses, immunotherapy, clinical trials