| abstract |
The present disclosure concerns the use of oncolytic viruses for the treatment of cancer. In particular, the use of a herpes simplex virus, a vaccinia virus, or an adenovirus containing a gene encoding a PD-1 binding agent, such as a scFv polypeptide, to achieve a particular degree of oncolysis is described. In some embodiments, the oncolytic virus expressing the PD-1 binding agent is effective at inducing immune responses that kill cancer cells at distant sites from the primary tumor. An oncolytic virus can also be engineered to be less toxic or damaging to non-cancer cells by mutation or modification of gene products such that the alterations render the viruses better able to infect the host, less toxic, and/or better able to selectively infect cancer cells. |