New approaches for malignant tumor treatments – oncolytic viruses

Maligni tumori su među vodećim uzrocima smrti na globalnoj razini. Razvoj učinkovitijih i specifičnijih metoda liječenja, kako bi se postigao porast stope preživljavanja bez bolesti, od iznimne je važnosti. Početkom prošlog stoljeća zabilježeno je nekoliko slučajeva remisije tumorske mase nakon virusne infekcije koji su ukazali na potencijalnu upotrebu virusa kao imunoterapijskih agensa. Razvojem genetičkog inženjerstva dizajnirani su prvi onkolitički virusi koji su selektivno uništavali tumorske stanice i aktivirali imunosni odgovor, dok su zdrave stanice ostale intaktne. Rigvir, Onkorin i T-VEC predstavljaju prva tri lijeka temeljena na djelovanju onkolitičkih virusa koja se primjenjuju u liječenju malignih tumora te se neprestano istražuju mnoge druge virusne vrste s jednakim djelovanjem u pretkliničkim ili kliničkim studijima. Onkolitička viroterapija predstavlja veoma onkoselektivnu, učinkovitu i biološki sigurnu metodu u liječenju malignih tumora, no pokazuje i određene nedostatke. Moderne tehnologije omogućavaju razvoj i modifikaciju onkolitičkih virusa, što povećava i njihov potencijal u liječenju malignih tumora, i u monoterapiji i kombiniranoj terapiji. U budućnosti, primjena onkolitičke viroterapije predstavljala bi prekretnicu u liječenju tumora.Malignant tumors are among the leading causes of death worldwide. The development of more effective and specific treatment methods, to achieve an increase in disease-free survival rates, is of paramount importance. At the beginning of the last century, several cases of tumor remission after viral infection were recorded, which indicated the potential use of viruses as immunotherapeutic agents. With the development of genetic engineering, the first oncolytic viruses were designed that selectively destroyed tumor cells and activated the immune response, while the healthy cells remained intact. Rigvir, Onkorin and T-VEC represent the first three drugs based on the activity of oncolytic viruses that are used in the treatment of malignant tumors, and many other virus species with the same activity are constantly being investigated in preclinical or clinical trials. Oncolytic virotherapy represents a very oncoselective, effective and biosafe method in the treatment of cancer, but it also reveals certain disadvantages. Advancements in technology enable the development and modifications of oncolytic viruses, which increases their potential in the treatment of malignant tumors, both in monotherapy and combined therapy.In the future, the use of oncolytic virotherapy would represent a turning point in the treatment of tumors