myxoma virus

Myxoma virus (MYXV) is a double-stranded DNA virus in the poxvirus family that is nonpathogenic to humans but highly pathogenic to rabbits. Leveraged as an oncolytic virus, MYXV selectively infects and kills a wide range of human cancer cells without harming normal human cells. Mechanistically, it induces tumor cell lysis via apoptosis—particularly caspase-8–mediated extrinsic apoptosis—and can also trigger tumor cell autosis when delivered through techniques such as CAR T cells infected with MYXV[2][6]. MYXV also modulates the host immune response by producing viral proteins (e.g., M013) that inhibit proinflammatory pathways such as the inflammasome and NFκB pathways[7]. MYXV has been studied preclinically for use against glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, and small cell lung cancer, demonstrating efficacy both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs such as gemcitabine and cisplatin[1][3][5]. Its preferential targeting and replication in malignant cells, coupled with its safety in humans, make it a promising therapeutic platform in oncolytic virotherapy[8].

Other names

rabbit myxoma virusMYXV