Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Terapia vírica oncolítica
Oncolytic virus therapy (ON-koh-LIH-tik VY-rus THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment using an oncolytic virus (a virus that infects and breaks down cancer cells but not normal cells ). Oncolytic virus therapy may make it easier to kill tumor cells with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is a type of targeted therapy. Also called oncolytic virotherapy, viral therapy, and virotherapy.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.