REVIEW
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses as a gene delivery vehicle for the use in molecular medicine
Prospects of using oncolytic viruses in breast cancer therapy
Correspondence should be addressed: Alexander V. Blagov
Shchukinskaya, 5, k. 6, Moscow, 123182, Russia; ur.abmfpsc@vogalBA
Author contribution: Blagov AV — analysis of scientific literature, review authoring.
Breast cancer (BC) is a cancer with a high prevalence and mortality among women worldwide. With the current diagnostics methods, BC may remain undetected at its early stages, and the therapies developed for the disease are associated with severe side effects. Oncolytic viruses can be the basis of the new, effective BC treatment approaches. The viruses destroy tumor cells directly and launch the antitumor immune response; this dual action supports their efficacy. It is possible to make the oncolytic virus therapy more effective by designing genetically modified viruses that can target BC cells better and/or induce a stronger antitumor immune response. This review outlines the directions of development of oncolytic viruses in BC treatment, covers the optimal ways of delivering viruses to the tumor and the efficacy of their use in combination with other therapeutic agents (methods) and presents the prospects of using oncolytic viruses in antitumor vaccines.
Keywords: breast cancer, oncolytic viruses, viral vector, chemotherapy, estrogen receptors