Figure 1.

Measles as an oncolytic virus. (a) Schematic of the measles virus particle. The viral RNA genome is encapsulated by the nucleocapsid (N) protein and is associated with the viral polymerase (L, large protein) and its cofactor phosphoprotein (P), forming the ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). The matrix (M) protein connects the RNP and the viral envelope. The surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) mediate receptor binding and cell fusion, respectively. (b) Schematic of the measles virus genome with open reading frames encoding the six structural proteins flanked by the 3′ leader (ld) and 5′ trailer (tr). (c) Syncytia formation as the typical cytopathic effect associated with measles virus infection. Human colorectal cancer (KM12, top) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (T3M4, bottom) cells were transfected with plasmids encoding the MeV glycoproteins H and F as well as enhanced green fluorescent protein as reporter. Control cells were subjected to mock transfection. Phase contrast and fluorescence images were acquired with an Axiovert 200 microscope (Zeiss) at 36 h (KM12) and 12 h post-transfection (T3M4). Scale bar: 200 µm. (d) Lymphoma remission after measles infection. Left panel: The patient presented with orbital Burkitt’s lymphoma. Middle panel: The patient was infected with measles; the typical skin rash is visible. Right panel: Without specific anti-lymphoma treatment, the orbital mass resolved. Reproduced from Lancet 10 July 1971; 2 (7715): 105–106, with permission.