Does oncolytic viruses-mediated metabolic reprogramming benefit or harm the immune microenvironment?

Area of Science:

• Oncolytic virus immunotherapy
• Tumor microenvironment
• Cancer metabolism

Background:

• Oncolytic virus immunotherapy is a rapidly advancing cancer treatment.
• Tumor cell metabolism significantly influences the anti-tumor immune response.
• Oncolytic viruses can mediate metabolic reprogramming within the tumor microenvironment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how oncolytic viruses reprogram host cell metabolism (glucose, lipid, oxidative phosphorylation, glutamine).
• To illustrate the impact of virus-induced metabolic reprogramming on the tumor immune microenvironment.
• To explore targeted metabolic reprogramming as a strategy to improve oncolytic virus therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on oncolytic viruses and cancer cell metabolism.
• Analysis of the effects of metabolic reprogramming on immune cell function within the tumor microenvironment.
• Synthesis of findings regarding glucose, lipid, oxidative phosphorylation, and glutamine metabolism.

Main Results:

• Oncolytic virus-induced glucose metabolism reprogramming has dual effects (beneficial and detrimental) on the immune microenvironment.
• Oncolytic viruses promote fatty acid synthesis and glutamine catabolism in tumor cells.
• Oncolytic viruses inhibit tumor cell oxidative phosphorylation, which can benefit anti-tumor immunity.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic reprogramming by oncolytic viruses critically shapes the tumor immune microenvironment.
• Specific metabolic pathways, including glucose, lipid, and glutamine metabolism, are significantly altered.
• Targeting these metabolic alterations presents a novel therapeutic avenue to enhance oncolytic virus immunotherapy effectiveness.