Abstract

Malignant tumors are a major cause of mortality in humans. Currently employed therapeutic regimens have not much improved survival rates of patients suffering from malignant tumors because of their limited efficacy and side effects. A novel therapeutic approach employs the use of the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) that represents an attractive new tool for tumor immunotherapy. The aim of the present review is to highlight the mechanisms and advances that are likely to have considerable impact on NDV virotherapy. There exists significant evidence regarding the oncolytic effects of NDV suggesting its potential use in the treatment of various tumors. Furthermore, clinical trials have suggested that several NDV strains have the potential for cancer virotherapy with few side effects compared with traditional treatments. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the oncolytic mechanisms of NDV. Apoptosis following NDV infection may contribute to the observed oncolytic effects, however, NDV could also stimulate both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. For many years, different approaches have been investigated (or are in the process of being developed) regarding the use of NDV for the treatment of malignancies. Recent advances employing reverse genetics have provided a means of generating recombinant NDV strains with improved oncolytic and immune regulatory properties. © 2011 The Authors Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

© 2011 The Authors Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.