Oncolytic virotherapy: new weapon for breast cancer treatment

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Precision medicine increasingly utilizes viruses as anti-cancer agents.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors show efficacy but have limitations like severe immune-related adverse events and treatment resistance.
• Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are being developed to modulate immune responses against cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status, clinical applications, and future development of oncolytic viruses (OVs).
• To focus on the potential of OVs in treating breast cancer, a typically 'cold' tumor.
• To explore how OVs can convert 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors by enhancing T cell infiltration.

Main Methods:

• Review of in vitro and in vivo studies on oncolytic viruses.
• Analysis of clinical applications and ongoing research in OV therapy.
• Focus on the mechanism of OVs in immune system modulation and tumor microenvironment remodeling.

Main Results:

• OVs are attenuated viruses that selectively infect and kill cancer cells.
• OVs can remodel the tumor microenvironment and stimulate an anti-tumor immune response.
• OVs have the potential to overcome T cell exclusion in 'cold' tumors, enhancing immunotherapy efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Oncolytic virotherapy represents a promising strategy for cancer treatment, particularly for 'cold' tumors like breast cancer.
• OVs can enhance the effectiveness of other immunotherapies by improving T cell infiltration.
• Further research and clinical trials are essential to fully realize the potential of OVs in oncology.