Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Immunotherapeutic Potential of TGF-β Inhibition and Oncolytic Viruses
Christianne Groeneveldt1, Thorbald van Hall1, Sjoerd H van der Burg1
1Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In cancer immunotherapy, a patient's own immune system is harnessed against cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors release the brakes on tumor-reactive T cells and, therefore, are particularly effective in treating certain immune-infiltrated solid tumors. By contrast, solid tumors with immune-silent profiles show limited efficacy of checkpoint blockers due to several barriers. Recent discoveries highlight transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced immune exclusion and a lack of immunogenicity as examples of these barriers. In this review, we summarize preclinical and clinical evidence that illustrates how the inhibition of TGF-β signaling and the use of oncolytic viruses (OVs) can increase the efficacy of immunotherapy, and discuss the promise and challenges of combining these approaches with immune checkpoint blockade.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...

