Oncolytic therapy is a relatively new and exciting field of cancer treatment that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. It is a type of cancer therapy that uses viruses to target and destroy cancer cells. The viruses are genetically engineered to specifically infect and kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is achieved through the use of specific viral modifications that often include the removal of genes that allow the virus to cause disease and the addition of genes that activate an immune response.
The viruses used in oncolytic therapy can be derived from many different sources, including the herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, vaccinia virus, and many others. These viruses are chosen because they can be made to selectively infect cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. Once inside the cancer cell, the virus begins to replicate and eventually causes the cell to burst, releasing new virus particles that can infect neighboring cancer cells.
Another exciting aspect of oncolytic therapy is that the viruses used can stimulate the immune system to attack
cancer. As the viruses replicate and destroy cancer cells, they release small amounts of substances called cytokines that can trigger an immune response. This can lead to an increase in the number of immune cells that are able to recognize and eliminate cancer cells throughout the body.
While oncolytic therapy is still in the experimental stage, it has shown a lot of promise in early clinical trials. Researchers are hopeful that this type of therapy can be combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, to provide a more comprehensive approach to cancer treatment.
Overall, oncolytic therapy is an exciting and promising new field of cancer treatment that has the potential to offer new hope for cancer patients. While more research is needed to fully understand its potential, the early results are very promising, and researchers are optimistic about the future of this field.
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