Comparison of the properties of the major DNA (top) and RNA (bottom) viruses used for development of oncolytic virotherapy platforms
| DNA viruses | Vaccinia virus | Adenovirus | Herpesvirus | Parvovirus H1 | ||
| Natural host | Human (v) | Human | Human | Rat | ||
| Genome | dsDNA | dsDNA | dsDNA | ssDNA | ||
| Replication site | C | N | N | N | ||
| Nuclear integration | – | + | + | + | ||
| Cell receptor | Not needed | CAR | HVEM/nectin | Sialic acid residues | ||
| Transgene capacity | +++ | ++ | +++ | – | ||
| Delivery | i.t and i.v | i.t | i.t | i.t and i.v | ||
| Hypoxia | + | – | + | n.k | ||
| Pre-existing immunity | + | +++ | +++ | – | ||
| Antiviral drugs available | + | + | + | – | ||
| RNA viruses | Reovirus | Coxsackievirus | Poliovirus | Measles virus | NDV | VSV |
| Natural host | Human | Human | Human (v) | Human (v) | Bird | Human |
| Genome | dsRNA | ssRNA | ssRNA | ssRNA | ssRNA | ssRNA |
| Replication site | C | C | C | C | C | C |
| Nuclear integration | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cell receptor | Unknown | CAR/ICAM/DAF | CD155 | SLAM/CD46 | Unknown | LDLR |
| Transgene capacity | – | – | – | + | + | + |
| Delivery | i.t/i.v | i.t/i.v | i.t | i.t | i.t/i.v | i.t/i.v |
| Hypoxia | – | n.k | + | n.k | + | n.k |
| Pre-existing immunity | +++ | + | +++ | +++ | – | – |
| Antivirals | – | – | – | – | – | – |
C, cytoplasmic replication; CAR, coxsackie-adenovirus receptor; DAF, decay accelerating factor; dsDNA, double-stranded DNA; dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; HVEM, herpesvirus entry mediator; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; i.t, intratumoral; i.v, intravenous; LDLR, low density lipoprotein receptor; N, nuclear replication; N, nuclear replication; NDV, Newcastle disease virus; n.k, not known; ssDNA, single-stranded DNA; ssRNA, single-stranded RNA; v, vaccine strain; VSV, vesicular stomatitis virus.