Tumor cell viral entry receptors

The term “tumor cell viral entry receptors” describes a diverse set of host plasma membrane proteins, such as cell adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM-1, integrins), transporters (e.g., CD155, ACE2, NPC1), or enzymes (e.g., TMPRSS2), that mediate the attachment and entry of viruses into tumor cells. The utilization of these receptors by viruses governs cellular tropism, pathogenesis, and potential therapeutic exploitation in oncolytic virotherapy. Overexpression or altered expression of certain viral entry receptors in cancer cells can make them more susceptible to viral infection, both inadvertently (as seen in higher infection rates) and purposefully (in design of oncolytic viruses). However, this is a functional class rather than a single discrete target, and each virus-receptor pair must be considered specifically for research or clinical purposes.