Note on the Experimental Use of Rabies Vaccine for Melanomatosis

A Comprehensive Review of Modern Cancer Therapies Utilizing Oncolytic Viruses

“…I have been besieged by numerous telegrams, letters, and telephone calls requesting more specific information. In self-protection and wishing to prevent the hope this false rumor has sparked, I have reported the experiences of my colleagues and myself to date.” [ 11 ]…”

“…Side B (light brown) highlights the development of new techniques and advancements that contributed to improving early virotherapy, along with the author(s) of the relevant studies. HBV—hepatitis B virus; A.P.C.—adenoidal—pharyngeal—conjunctival (adenoviruses); HSV—herpes simplex virus [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 19 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. (created with BioRender.com, accessed on 19 October 2025).…”

Advances in Oncolytic Viral Therapy in Melanoma: A Comprehensive Review

“…Considering the virulence of naturally derived viruses, attempts were made to attenuate and engineer viruses to render them non-pathogenic. Early in the 1920s, vaccines against smallpox and rabies could induce remission in rodent tumors, but clinical trials were unsuccessful [ 34 , 35 ]. By the early 1950s, it was observed that passing an OV several times through the same tumor would cause its oncolytic properties to increase manifold [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

“…Early in the 1920s, vaccines against smallpox and rabies could induce remission in rodent tumors, but clinical trials were unsuccessful [ 34 , 35 ]. By the early 1950s, it was observed that passing an OV several times through the same tumor would cause its oncolytic properties to increase manifold [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Although the progeny would lyse the cancer cells more efficiently, this process could not reduce the tropism to non-malignant cells.…”

Oncolytic Virotherapy for High-Grade Glioma and Current Evidence and Factors to Consider for Incorporation into Clinical Practice

“…The properties of oncolytic viruses were observed prior to the characterization of viruses themselves. Early anecdotal accounts can be found in the literature as early as 1904 describing cancer patients who went into remission following an infection with influenza or measles virus [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Viral particles were first observed with electron microscopy in 1939, and the rise of tissue culturing allowing for ex vivo virus propagation greatly increased understanding of viruses in the 1950s and 1960s [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”