The invention relates to methods of treating tumours comprising delivering an oncolytic virus or oncolytic viral RNA via direct injection or systemic administration or intravesicular administration to the tumour or cancer in combination with the co-administration of an immuno-stimulatory agent via the systemic route to a mammal.

Human clinical use of a chimeric poliovirus construct has demonstrated excellent anti-tumor effect. Sequential treatment with the virus construct followed by chemotherapy drugs increases the anti-tumor effect. Tumors of different types are susceptible to the combination treatment, including but not limited to melanoma, glioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, medulloblastoma, and colorectal cancer.

The present invention relates to a method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a Coxsackie B3 group virus or a modified form thereof, wherein the cells of the cancer express a heparan sulfate (HS) receptor on their surface and the virus binds to said HS receptor, enters and accumulates in the cancer cells, whereby at least some cancer cells undergo viral lysis.

A gene-modified coxsackievirus that is to be used in oncolytic virotherapy and is improved in safety and/or aggressiveness is provided. A gene-modified coxsackievirus that contains a mutated genome with a coxsackievirus B3 wild-type (CVB3-WT) genome inserted with at least one polynucleotide constituted of a target sequence for at least one of either of miR-34a and miR-34c and is suppressed in proliferation in normal cells is provided.

The present invention related to an infectious complementary DNA (cDNA) construct characterized in that the cDNA comprises: the cDNA of the CVB3 genomic RNA sequence of a Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3); at least one or more microRNA target sequences (miR-TS), which are complementary to one or more microRNAs having tissue-specific expression pattern, wherein the at least one or more miR-TS are integrated immediately adjacent of the 5UTR and/or the 3UTR of the CVB3 protein coding sequence.

In a method for manufacturing a modified enterovirus of ECHO 7 type by modification of native ECHO 7 virus, isolated by a known method from human feces and identified by genome sequence, the modification is performed initially conducting the virus adaptation in cancer cells, attenuated by anti-cancer agent dacarbazine, further passaging the modified virus in human embryonal fibroblast culture, followed by propagation in human melanoma cells and further passaging in human embryonal fibroblast culture, that was treated by ribavirin, isolation and purification by known method. The modified virus is suitable for treating various tumours.

A modified coxsackievirus showing improved safety and/or aggressiveness to be used for oncolytic virotherapy is provided. A modified coxsackievirus showing tissue-specific suppression of proliferation and comprising a mutated genome consisting of the genome of coxsackievirus B3 wild-type (CVB3-WT) inserted with at least one polynucleotide consisting of a target sequence of tissue-specific microRNA (miRNA) is provided. The mutated genome is preferably further inserted with the region encoding GM-CSF in an expressible form.

This document provides methods and materials related to the use of nucleic acid coding for viruses to reduce the number of viable cancer cells within a mammal. For example, methods for using infectious nucleic acid to treat cancer, engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for making engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for identifying infectious nucleic acid for treating cancer, methods and materials for controlling virus-mediated cell lysis, and methods and materials for assessing the control of virus-mediated cell lysis are provided.

This document provides methods and materials related to the use of nucleic acid coding for viruses to reduce the number of viable cancer cells within a mammal. For example, methods for using infectious nucleic acid to treat cancer, engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for making engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for identifying infectious nucleic acid for treating cancer, methods and materials for controlling virus-mediated cell lysis, and methods and materials for assessing the control of virus-mediated cell lysis are provided.

Methods of inhibiting or reducing tumor growth are disclosed. A composition containing at least one selected oncolytic virus is administered within a tumor of a patient. The virus kills cancerous cells and induces a systemic and lasting anti-tumor immunity that is also compatible with other cancer treatments. Also disclosed are methods of creating synthetic viruses for targeting cancerous tumors.