Viral vector delivery to tumor cells

Viral vector delivery to tumor cells refers to the use of engineered viruses (such as adenovirus, lentivirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes simplex virus, poxvirus, and more) to introduce therapeutic genes into cancer cells for gene therapy or immunotherapy. These vectors are modified to enhance tumor specificity by exploiting tumor-associated receptors, altered microenvironments, or tissue-specific promoters, and may be replication-deficient (gene delivery vectors) or replication-competent (oncolytic viruses) for direct tumor cell lysis. The approach is considered a delivery platform, not a molecular target, and underpins a major class of investigational and approved gene and cell therapies for cancer[1][2][4]. Extensive engineering is undertaken to mitigate risks of off-target effects, immunogenicity, and other safety concerns. "Viral vector delivery to tumor cells" does not correspond to a single molecular target, protein, or receptor according to standard molecular classification. It is a therapeutic strategy/platform and should not be treated as a discrete drug target entity[1][2][4].

Other names

Viral vector–mediated gene delivery to tumor cellsViral vector–based cancer therapyTumor-targeted viral gene deliveryOncolytic viral delivery to tumor

Gene delivery to tumor cells (therapeutic gene transduction); Oncolysis (direct lysis of tumor cells by replicating viruses); Immune activation (indirect through delivered genes or by released danger signals)[2][4]