Abstract

Viruses have been engineered for cancer therapy in a variety of ways. Approaches include non-replicating gene therapy vectors, cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses, but the clinical efficacy of these approaches has been limited by multiple factors. However, a new therapeutic class of oncolytic poxviruses has recently been developed that combines targeted and armed approaches for treating cancer. Initial preclinical and clinical results show that products from this therapeutic class can systemically target cancers in a highly selective and potent fashion using a multi-pronged mechanism of action.

Author affiliations

1. David H. Kirn is at Jennerex Biotherapeutics Inc., San Francisco, California 94105, USA, and the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.
   Email: dkirn@jennerex.com
2. Steve H. Thorne is at the Departments of Surgery and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh 5213, USA.
   Email: ThorneSH@UPMC.edu

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