Perspectives on immunotherapy via oncolytic viruses

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Current cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy offer limited survival benefits with severe side effects for advanced solid tumors.
• Targeted therapies and immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors, have shown efficacy but face challenges like tumor resistance and limited patient response.
• Tumor microenvironment (TME) immunosuppression is a key factor limiting cancer treatment effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of oncolytic viruses (OVs) as a novel cancer therapy.
• To discuss the advancements in OV technology and their application in cancer immune and gene therapy.
• To identify areas for improvement in OV development for treating challenging cancers.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing the historical context and recent revival of oncolytic virus (OV) research.
• Examining the manipulation of viral genomes to enhance OV efficacy and safety.
• Highlighting the development of engineered OVs for targeted gene delivery and immune stimulation.

Main Results:

• Oncolytic viruses (OVs) demonstrate selective tumor cell killing and can be engineered as gene therapy vectors.
• Viruses with large DNA genomes are particularly adaptable for addressing TME immunosuppression.
• The first approved oncolytic virus, T-VEC, marks a significant step in clinical application for melanoma.

Conclusions:

• Oncolytic viruses (OVs) hold significant potential as versatile agents for cancer immune and gene therapy.
• Engineering OVs can overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), offering new treatment avenues.
• Further research and development are crucial for realizing the full clinical potential of OVs in difficult-to-treat cancers.