Exploiting tumor-specific defects in the interferon pathway with a previously unknown oncolytic virus

Interferons are circulating factors that bind to cell surface receptors, activating a signaling cascade, ultimately leading to both an antiviral response and an induction of growth inhibitory and/or apoptotic signals in normal and tumor cells1. Attempts to exploit the ability of interferons to limit the growth of tumors in patients has met with limited results2 because of cancer-specific mutations of gene products in the interferon …