Association of oncolytic adenoviruses with chemotherapies: an overview and future directions

Area of Science:

• Oncolytic virotherapy
• Cancer therapeutics
• Viral oncology

Background:

• Oncolytic adenoviruses demonstrate tumor cell lysis with minimal toxicity in preclinical and clinical settings.
• Current limitations include poor tumor cell transduction, lack of selectivity, limited tumor spread, and host immune responses.
• Combining oncolytic adenoviruses with chemotherapy is a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic potency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the molecular basis, applications, and limitations of oncolytic adenoviruses.
• To explore the combination of oncolytic adenoviruses with various chemotherapeutic agents.
• To identify strategies for enhancing oncolytic adenovirus efficacy through drug combinations.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical and clinical studies on oncolytic adenoviruses.
• Analysis of studies combining oncolytic adenoviruses with standard, targeted, and other chemotherapeutic drugs.
• Identification of synergistic or additive effects between oncolytic adenoviruses and chemotherapeutics.

Main Results:

• Oncolytic adenoviruses have demonstrated oncolytic capacity but are limited by transduction efficiency, selectivity, dissemination, and immunogenicity.
• Combinations with chemotherapeutics, including standard and targeted agents, show potential for improved outcomes.
• Specific drug combinations can overcome oncolytic adenovirus limitations and enhance anti-tumor activity.

Conclusions:

• Combining oncolytic adenoviruses with chemotherapy is a viable strategy to improve efficacy.
• Further research is needed to identify optimal drug combinations and therapeutic regimens.
• Future directions involve establishing rules for selecting synergistic chemotherapeutic agents to enhance oncolytic adenovirus therapy.