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A cross-talk network that facilitates tumor virotherapy

Nature Medicine volume 21, pages 426–427 (2015)Cite this article

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To target and kill cancer cells, oncolytic viruses exploit signaling pathways that promote tumor growth. A new study shows that the cancer stromal fibroblast factor FGF2 is a crucial component of a tumor–TGF-β axis that renders cancer cells sensitive to virus infection.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are a promising biological therapy for the treatment of cancer1. Recent advances in genetic engineering have facilitated generation of OVs that can exploit each cancer's unique set of mutations to result in anti-neoplastic activity. Furthermore, the efficacy of oncolytic viruses can be further enhanced with additional therapeutic genes, such as genes that activate prodrugs ('suicide' genes) or immune-stimulatory genes (such as those encoding the cytokines IL-12 or GM-CSF). The virus can unload this 'therapeutic cargo' at the tumor site, thereby enhancing the viral anti-neoplastic properties.

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Figure 1: Stromal FGF2 sensitizes cancer to oncolytic virus (OV) infection.

Kim Caesar/Nature Publishing Group

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Agnieszka Bronisz and E. Antonio Chiocca are at the Harvey Cushing Neuro-Oncology Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,

    Agnieszka Bronisz & E Antonio Chiocca

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  1. Agnieszka Bronisz
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  2. E Antonio Chiocca
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Correspondence to Agnieszka Bronisz.

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Bronisz, A., Chiocca, E. A cross-talk network that facilitates tumor virotherapy. Nat Med 21, 426–427 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3857

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