Oncolytic viruses (OVs) target cancer cells, killing them from the inside. As the contaminated cancer cells die, the biproducts develop additional infectious components that continue to destroy the tumor. Dr. Kevin Cassady and his team have found that using OV-based “shared” antigen expression allows the immune system to recognize these antigens and improves the capacity of the immune system to fight tumor activity. Shared antigen expression includes proteins that are overexpressed by many tumors. They have been able to construct additional OVs that improve the immune targeting glioma and its associated antigen, IL13Ra2. This group is simultaneously investigating other ways enhance the anti-glioma activity by combining OVs with Chimeric Antigen Receptor-targeted T cells directed against IL13Ra2. In pre-clinical trials, this combination has produced improved anti-tumor activity with lower doses and safe to the patient.