Oncolytic Mechanisms of Viruses: Effect on Tumor Cells and Role of the Tumor Microenvironment

Dear Colleagues,

VIRAL ONCOLYSIS is the ability of a virus to selectively replicate and induce cell death in tumor cells as well as spread within a tumor due to the release of new virions and the action of specific viral gene products. Such ONCOLYTIC VIRUSES (OVs) can exert their functions with different mechanisms that can be distinguished between primary (i.e., direct virus-induced cytolysis and/or apoptosis) and secondary ones. The latter include a wide range of events leading to tumor cell death, such as modulation of the anti-viral and anti-tumoral immune responses, changes in the organization of the tumor-associated extracellular matrix, affecting invasiveness inducing the so-called Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET), and alterations of the tumor-associated vasculature and angiogenesis. Several viruses such as adenovirus, reovirus, paramyxoviruses (such as measles, distemper or Newcastle disease virus), herpes virus (e.g. herpes simplex virus), and vaccinia virus have been proposed as OVs for different types of cancers (tumor virotherapy). Many features of these interactions are important for the effectiveness of a therapy, including the innate immune responses and induced inflammation, the different types of virus-triggered cell death, tumor metabolism and tumor microenvironment (e.g. immune cells, fibroblasts, angiogenesis, hypoxia), Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition/Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition processes, and the expression of immunosuppressive factors.

This SPECIAL ISSUE will cover a wide range of topics focusing on viral oncolysis and aims to enhance current knowledge of the interaction between oncolytic viruses and different types of tumor cells and address the mechanisms by which oncolytic viruses trigger the immune system against tumors or drive the tumor microenvironment (TME) to significant changes.

All types of articles will be considered for publication, including short reports, full research articles, and reviews.

We look forward to your contribution.

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• Viral oncolysis
• Oncolytic Viruses (OVs)
• Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET)
• Tumor virotherapy
• Immune system
• Tumor microenvironment (TME)