Cancer Cell Lysis via Viral Replication (None)

Cancer cell lysis via viral replication refers to the process by which oncolytic viruses (OVs) selectively infect, replicate within, and ultimately destroy cancer cells. This mechanism is a cornerstone of oncolytic virotherapy, an emerging cancer treatment strategy that exploits the unique vulnerabilities of tumor cells to viral infection and replication. OVs preferentially infect cancer cells due to factors such as overexpression of specific viral entry receptors, defects in antiviral interferon signaling pathways, or activation of oncogenic pathways. Once inside the tumor cell, the virus hijacks cellular machinery for its own replication. The accumulation of new virions leads to disruption and eventual lysis of the host cancer cell membrane. Upon lysis, progeny viruses are released into the surrounding tissue where they can infect neighboring tumor cells, amplifying their therapeutic effect. The primary therapeutic effect is direct cytolytic destruction (“oncolysis”) of malignant tissue. Secondary effects include stimulation of anti-tumor immune responses due to release of tumor antigens during cell lysis. Some OVs also encode proteins toxic specifically to neoplastic cells even before full viral replication occurs.

Selective infection of cancer cells, intracellular amplification of virus, host cell lysis, spread to neighboring tumor cells.