This chapter will review the utilization of therapeutic viruses for the
treatment of mesothelioma. For a variety of reasons, certain viruses can preferentially
infect mesothelioma cells and through natural replication cycle result in cancer cell lysis
and spread of virus to surrounding cancer cells. Since the host antiviral response is a
major limitation to clinical application of virotherapy, viruses have mainly been
employed in tumor types that are directly injectable. Because mesothelioma is
predominantly localized to the pleural or peritoneal cavity and is hallmarked by local
progression rather than distant metastasis, it has been seen as an ideal candidate tumor
for treatment with virus therapy. Thus far several viruses have demonstrated preclinical
activity in mesothelioma models. These data have led to the first clinical trial testing
oncolytic measles virus specifically in patients with mesothelioma. The rationale and
available data for the potential efficacy of oncolytic viruses for mesothelioma will be
reviewed in this chapter.
Keywords: Adenovirus, herpes virus, measles virus, Newcastle disease virus,
oncolytic virus, vaccinia virus, vesicular stomatitis virus.
