Oncolytic Viruses and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: The "Hot" New Power Couple

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Virology

Background:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment but are effective only in specific patient groups.
• Tumor microenvironments that lack immune cell infiltration (
• cold
• tumors) limit ICI efficacy.
• Combination therapies are needed to broaden ICI benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review oncolytic viruses (OVs) as a promising strategy to enhance ICI therapy.
• To explore OV platforms, their monotherapy and combination use with ICIs.
• To discuss preclinical data on engineered OVs delivering ICIs locally.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical trial data for major OV vector platforms.
• Analysis of preclinical and clinical studies on OV-ICI combinations.
• Examination of studies on genetically modified OVs encoding ICIs.

Main Results:

• OVs induce immunogenic cell death and augment anti-tumor immunity.
• OVs can increase immune cell infiltration, converting
• cold
• tumors to
• hot
• ones.
• OVs show promise as monotherapy and in combination with ICIs.

Conclusions:

• OVs represent a potent therapeutic modality to overcome ICI resistance.
• Combining OVs with ICIs can improve treatment outcomes for a wider patient population.
• Engineered OVs offer a targeted approach for local ICI delivery, potentially enhancing efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity.