The specific targeting of tumor cells by replication-competent oncolytic viruses is considered indispensable for realizing the potential of oncolytic virotherapy. Yet off-target infections by oncolytic viruses may increase virus production, further reducing tumor load. This ability may be critical when tumor-cell scarcity or the onset of an adaptive immune response constrain viral anti-tumoral efficacy. Here we develop a mathematical framework for assessing whether oncolytic viruses with reduced tumor-specificity can more effectively eliminate tumors while keeping losses to normal cell populations low. We find viruses that infect some normal cells can potentially balance the competing goals of tumor elimination and minimizing the effects on normal cell populations. Particularly when infected tissues can be regenerated, moderating rather than completely eliminating the ability of oncolytic viruses to infect and lyse normal cells could improve cancer treatment, with potentially fewer side-effects than conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
1
3%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
1
3%
Other
3
10%
Unknown
12
39%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 11. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 13 July 2020.
All research outputs
#3,414,629
of 26,370,058 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Theoretical Biology
#383
of 4,055 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#31,871
of 243,063 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Theoretical Biology
#5
of 67 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 26,370,058 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 87th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 4,055 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.3. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 90% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 243,063 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 86% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 67 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 92% of its contemporaries.
