Oncolytic Bacterial and Viral Therapies as Cancer Prevention and Treatment Options: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer has always been a severe threat to health and life. Since patients with advanced cancer often have a limited survival time and high treatment expenditures, routine therapies, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may help them live longer. However, the majority of these individuals cannot afford the excessive cost of care and have short life duration. With the introduction of oncolytic bacteria and viruses, a revolutionary therapeutic technique for the treatment and potential cure of malignant tumors has emerged. Clostridium, Bifidobacteria, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus are all oncolytic bacteria. Adenoviruses, Vaccinia viruses, Reoviruses, Herpesviruses, and Coxsackieviruses are all oncolytic viruses. This study aimed to review the current studies on the therapeutic potential of oncolytic bacteria and viruses as an alternate method for cancer prevention and therapy, including both experimental and clinical trials.