The Current Landscape of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Viruses as Novel Therapies for Brain Malignancies

Joshua D Bernstock1, Samantha E Hoffman1,2, Jason A Chen1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Viruses
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Novel immunotherapies, specifically oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV), show promise for treating aggressive brain tumors. These oncolytic viruses (oHSV) are being explored in clinical trials as a new therapeutic option.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Virology

Background:

  • High-grade brain tumors have poor prognoses despite current treatments like surgery and chemoradiation.
  • There is a critical need for innovative therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for brain tumor patients.
  • Immunotherapy, particularly oncolytic virotherapy, is emerging as a promising approach for intractable cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV) currently under investigation for brain tumors.
  • To highlight the potential of immunovirotherapy as a novel treatment strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical trials involving oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV).
  • Focus on pertinent oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV) relevant to brain tumor treatment.

Main Results:

  • Oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV) are being actively investigated in clinical trials for brain tumors.
  • Immunovirotherapy represents a forefront strategy in novel cancer therapeutics.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV) offer a potential new avenue for treating high-grade brain tumors.
  • Further clinical investigation of oncolytic herpes viruses (oHSV) is warranted.

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