Oncolytic virus therapy is an emerging form of cancer treatment that uses viruses to selectively target and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. This innovative approach has shown promising results in preclinical and clinical trials and offers several benefits over traditional cancer treatments. Cancer Research Institute explains it by stating that oncolytic viruses can cause cancer cells to “burst”—killing the cancer cells and releasing cancer antigens.

Medical tourism platforms like Medditour connect the patients seeking oncolytic virus therapy with international hospitals and facilitators for cost-effective treatments.

In this article, let’s discuss in detail about the advantages of oncolytic virus therapy, benefits, procedure, and how medical tourism in India, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia help in the treatment.

Benefits of oncolytic virus therapy

One of the main advantages of oncolytic virus therapy is its ability to specifically target cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which can harm healthy cells along with cancerous ones, oncolytic viruses can be designed to infect and replicate only in cancer cells, effectively killing them while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This targeted approach can reduce the side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments, such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss.

Another advantage of oncolytic virus therapy is its potential to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Oncolytic viruses can trigger an immune response that can help the body identify and attack cancer cells more effectively. This can lead to a long-lasting and more durable response than traditional treatments, which can often leave residual cancer cells that can regrow and spread.

In Vivo states that a third of cancer vaccines in development are now oncolytic viruses, which are being developed for about 40 different types of cancer. 

Oncolytic virus therapy procedure

There are several types of oncolytic viruses that can be used in therapy, including herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, and measles virus, among others. These viruses are modified to enhance their ability to target cancer cells and to minimize their ability to cause harm to healthy cells. They are typically administered directly to the tumor site, either through injection or through a virus-carrying vector, such as a modified bacteria or a nanoparticle.

Medical tourism and oncolytic virus therapy

Medical tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years, as patients seek more affordable or specialized medical treatments outside their home countries. Countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia have emerged as leading destinations for medical tourism, including oncolytic virus therapy.

One of the main reasons why patients choose to travel to these countries for oncolytic virus therapy is cost. Medical treatments in these countries can often be significantly less expensive than in countries like the United States or Canada. This can make treatment more accessible to patients who may not be able to afford it otherwise.

Another reason why patients choose to travel for oncolytic virus therapy is access to specialized care. These countries have developed expertise in various medical fields, including oncology, and offer state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Patients may also have access to clinical trials or experimental treatments that are not yet available in their home countries.

Companies like Medditour help the patients seeking oncolytic virus therapy to combine their treatment with vacation to enable them to come out of the stress due to the therapy and treatments for cancer.

In conclusion, oncolytic virus therapy is a promising and innovative approach to cancer treatment that offers several benefits over traditional treatments. Medical tourism for oncolytic virus therapy may offer cost savings and access to specialized care.