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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Recent developments in oncolytic adenovirus-based immunotherapeutic agents for use against metastatic cancers
1Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Recurrent or metastatic cancer in most cases remains an incurable disease, and thus alternative treatment strategies, such as oncolytic virotherapy, are of great interest for clinical application. Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) have many advantages as virotherapeutic agents and have been safely employed in the clinics. However, the efficacy of oncolytic Ads is insufficient to eradicate tumors and current clinical applications are restricted to local administration against primary tumors because of immunological obstacles and poor tumor-cell targeting. Thus, alternative viable approaches are needed to establish therapies based on oncolytic Ad that will eliminate both primary and metastatic cancers. To this end, rational design of oncolytic Ads that express immunostimulatory genes has been employed. Even when restricted to local viral delivery, these oncolytic Ad-based immunotherapeutics have been shown to exert systemic antitumor immunity and result in eradication of both primary and metastatic cancers. Moreover, oncolytic Ad-based immunotherapeutics in combination with either dendritic cell-based vaccine or radiotherapy further strengthen the systemic tumor-specific immunity, resulting in complete suppression of both local and distant tumor metastatic growth. This review will focus on the most recent updates in strategies to develop potent oncolytic Ad-based immunotherapeutics for use in cancer gene therapy.
Insights
Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) show promise for cancer treatment but require enhancement for efficacy. Genetically engineered Ads expressing immunostimulatory genes can induce systemic immunity, eradicating primary and metastatic tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gene Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Virotherapy
Background:
- Recurrent or metastatic cancers are largely incurable, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) are promising virotherapeutic agents with a good safety profile.
- Current limitations of oncolytic Ads include insufficient efficacy, local administration, immunological barriers, and poor tumor targeting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in developing potent oncolytic Ad-based immunotherapeutics.
- To explore strategies for overcoming limitations of oncolytic Ads for treating primary and metastatic cancers.
- To highlight the potential of oncolytic Ads in cancer gene therapy.
Main Methods:
- Rational design of oncolytic Ads to express immunostimulatory genes.
- Evaluation of local viral delivery strategies.
- Investigation of combination therapies, including dendritic cell vaccines and radiotherapy.
Main Results:
- Oncolytic Ad-based immunotherapeutics induce systemic antitumor immunity.
- Local administration of engineered Ads can lead to the eradication of primary and metastatic tumors.
- Combination therapies further enhance systemic tumor-specific immunity and suppress tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- Engineered oncolytic adenoviruses represent a viable approach for effective cancer gene therapy.
- Immunostimulatory gene expression enhances the systemic antitumor activity of oncolytic Ads.
- Combination strategies show significant potential for complete tumor suppression.
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