Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41678117›Full record

ReviewJournal of neurovirology2026

Arboviruses in Cancer therapy: pros and cons.

Fereshteh Asgharzadeh, Hanieh Yaghoubi, Atieh Yaghoubi

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of neurovirology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Fereshteh AsgharzadehApplied Biomedical Research Center, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hanieh YaghoubiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
Atieh YaghoubiAntimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. YaghoubiAT@mums.ac.ir.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Arboviruses, arthropod-borne RNA viruses, are increasingly being recognized not only as causative agents of infectious diseases but also as promising tools in cancer therapy. Recent studies have demonstrated that certain arboviruses possess inherent oncolytic properties and can stimulate potent antitumor immune responses. This review critically examines the therapeutic potential of arboviruses in oncology alongside the key biosafety and translational challenges they present. Several members of the Flaviviridae, Reoviridae, Togaviridae, and Bunyaviridae families, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), Reovirus, Alphavirus, and Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV), have shown tumor-selective cytotoxicity and strong immunogenicity. ZIKV targets glioblastoma stem-like cells via CD24/SOX2-integrin αvβ5 signaling, while DENV enhances cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity through TRAIL and cytokine induction. These viruses can reprogram the tumor microenvironment by promoting innate and adaptive immune activation, making them attractive candidates for combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite these advantages, major concerns remain, including viral neurotropism, off-target effects, environmental transmission via vectors, and the impact of pre-existing immunity in endemic regions. In immunocompromised patients, even attenuated strains may pose safety risks. To unlock the full clinical potential of arboviruses in cancer treatment, future strategies must focus on improving tumor specificity through genetic engineering and mitigating biosafety risks. Arbovirus-based virotherapy offers a novel immunotherapeutic avenue capable of turning immunologically “cold” tumors into “hot” ones, thus enhancing cancer immunotherapy outcomes.

Indexed as

ArbovirusesNeoplasmsOncolytic VirotherapyOncolytic VirusesAnimalsHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsNeoplastic Stem CellsTumor MicroenvironmentImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsArbovirusesCancer immunotherapyImmunogenic cell deathOncolytic virotherapyTumor microenvironmentZika virus

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.