The Future Of Cancer Clinical Trials Hold Promise Thanks To Oncolytic Viruses

By Douglas W. Loe, PhD, MBA

Chemotherapy has always and continues to be our first line of defense, but is not for the faint of heart. Some form of chemotherapy is still routinely prescribed for most types of the disease. The treatment works by targeting fast-growing cells, like those typically found in rapidly growing tumors. But while chemotherapy can shrink tumors, they often grow back and become resistant, or refractory to the treatment.

To combat this resistance, chemotherapy is now often used in combination with other treatments that have different mechanisms for attacking and killing cancer cells. Doctors must be cautious when combining treatments to ensure that the regimen does not become too toxic for patients to tolerate. The goal is to introduce drugs that can be used synergistically with chemotherapy to not only extend life, but to improve quality of life while undergoing treatment.