Open AccessCancer gene therapy goes viral: viral vector platforms come of age
Author(s) -
Urban Bezeljak
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
radiology and oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1581-3207
pISSN - 1318-2099
DOI - 10.2478/raon-2022-0002
Subject(s) - viral vector , vector (molecular biology) , oncolytic virus , medicine , cancer , genetic enhancement , vectors in gene therapy , computational biology , gene , biology , biochemistry , recombinant dna
Background Since the advent of viral vector gene therapy in 1990s, cancer treatment with viral vectors promised to revolutionize the field of oncology. Notably, viral vectors offer a unique combination of efficient gene delivery and engagement of the immune system for anti-tumour response. Despite the early potential, viral vector-based cancer treatments are only recently making a big impact, most prominently as gene delivery devices in approved CAR-T cell therapies, cancer vaccines and targeted oncolytic therapeutics. To reach this broad spectrum of applications, a number of challenges have been overcome – from our understanding of cancer biology to vector design, manufacture and engineering. Here, we take an overview of viral vector usage in cancer therapy and discuss the latest advancements. We also consider production platforms that enable mainstream adoption of viral vectors for cancer gene therapy. Conclusions Viral vectors offer numerous opportunities in cancer therapy. Recent advances in vector production platforms open new avenues in safe and efficient viral therapeutic strategies, streamlining the transition from lab bench to bedside. As viral vectors come of age, they could become a standard tool in the cancer treatment arsenal.