Tumor cells via unspecified viral entry receptors

The term tumor cells via unspecified viral entry receptors refers to the broad mechanism by which oncolytic viruses and viral vectors identify and infect malignant cells using various surface proteins (NIH, 2023). This is not a single molecular target but a description of viral tropism where the virus utilizes available receptors—such as the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR), CD46, or integrins—to gain intracellular access (PubMed, PMID: 28257104). In therapeutic contexts, this interaction allows for selective viral replication within tumor cells, leading to direct oncolysis and the release of tumor-associated antigens (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2017). Drugs utilizing this mechanism include oncolytic viruses like Talimogene laherparepvec, which are designed to exploit the altered signaling and receptor landscapes of cancer cells (FDA, 2015). Because the specific receptors are often unspecified or multiple, the efficacy of these therapies can vary based on the heterogeneous expression of entry factors across different tumor types. This lack of specificity also presents challenges in managing off-target effects and predicting the systemic immune response to the viral vector (Journal of Virology, 2020).

Other names

Oncolytic viral entryViral tropismTumor-selective infectionOncolytic virotherapy entry

Viral attachment to cell surface receptors followed by endocytosis or membrane fusion, leading to intracellular viral replication and subsequent cell lysis (oncolysis).