MeV-SCD

MeV-SCD is an armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus developed for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is engineered by incorporating the suicide gene Super-cytosine deaminase (SCD) into a measles vaccine virus (MeV). This construct demonstrates potent oncolytic activity against human HCC cells both in laboratory settings and in animal models. The integrated SCD gene facilitates the efficient conversion of a prodrug into a cytotoxic agent within infected cells, significantly amplifying the cell-killing effect. This mechanism induces an apoptosis-like cell death, notably independent of intact apoptosis pathways, which suggests its potential to overcome resistance to conventional therapies in tumors with apoptotic defects.