LCSOV

LCSOV (liver-cancer specific oncolytic virus) is an engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus designed for the precise targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. It achieves selective replication by linking the essential viral glycoprotein H (gH) gene to the liver-specific apolipoprotein E (apoE)-AAT promoter. To further enhance safety and restrict replication to HCC cells, complementary sequences for miR-122a, miR-124a, and let-7 are incorporated into the 3' untranslated region of the gH gene. These microRNAs, abundant in normal hepatocytes but often downregulated in HCC, degrade viral transcripts in healthy cells, thereby confining viral replication and subsequent oncolysis primarily to malignant liver cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its high selectivity in killing HCC cells and shrinking HCC xenografts.