The present invention relates to methods for killing neoplastic cells, such as ras-activated cancerous cells, in vitro. In particular embodiments, an attenuated reovirus (e.g., a reovirus lacking a wild-type S1 gene) may be administered to a mixed cellular composition comprising cancerous cells and stem cells such as adult stem cells and/or hematopoietic stem cells; in these embodiments, the attenuated reovirus may result in killing of the cancerous cells with little or no damage to the healthy stem cells.

The present invention provides a universal system that detects cancer cells at all stages including early developmental stages as well as matured cancerous tumors. The system relates to monitoring the environment surrounding abnormally metabolizing cells, e.g., predominantly glycolytic cells, cancerous cells, precancerous cells, and/or cells with reduced mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain activity. Nanosensors detect chemical signatures of the organic compounds released by cancer cells into bodily fluids or to the air to detect cancerous or precancerous metabolisms in samples such as urine, saliva, sweat, blood or breath. Treatments provided in recognition of the signature metabolic changes occurring in cancer cells target the abnormal metabolism generally with special emphasis relating to changed mitochondrial metabolism and cell survivability. The treatments include, but are not limited to: therapeutic compositions and methods for treating, delaying, slowing or preventing one or more cancers.

The present invention provides an oncolytic virus formulation and preparation method thereof. The oncolytic virus formulation comprises cell vesicles derived from apoptotic tumor cells and oncolytic viruses coated in the cell vesicles as an effective component. The oncolytic virus formulation uses cell vesicles derived from tumor cells themselves to coat the oncolytic viruses, so as to evade the body's immune system attack and can be targeted to the tumor treatment site, and improve the tumor-killing effect.

Compositions and methods are provided that relate to an attenuated reovirus exhibiting oncolytic activity toward cancer cells while displaying reduced lytic activity toward non-malignant cells. Exemplified is an attenuated human reovirus derived from persistently infected fibrosarcoma cells that lacks wild-type reovirus S1 and S4 genes and consequently lacks a detectable reoviral outer capsid .sigma.1 protein and expresses a mutated reoviral outer capsid .sigma.3 protein.