Figure 2.

Concept of antitumor efficacy augmentation using oncolytic HSV-1 armed with an immunostimulatory gene. When oncolytic HSV-1 armed with the IL-12 gene infects tumor cells, IL-12 is secreted in the course of viral replication and stimulates the immune cells. In addition to direct tumor cell killing via viral replication and spread, tumor cells are destroyed by augmented antitumor immune responses, resulting in enhanced antitumor activities.