ANTICANCER IMMUNOGENIC POTENTIAL OF ONCOLYTIC PEPTIDES: RECENT ADVANCES AND NEW PROSPECTS

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Oncolytic peptides are derived from host defense/antimicrobial peptides with potential in cancer therapy.
• Their roles in tumor microenvironment remodeling and immune response potentiation are underappreciated.
• Clinical use is limited by suboptimal bioactivity and toxicity to normal cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects and perspectives of oncolytic peptides in anticancer immunity.
• To highlight challenges and potential solutions for oncolytic peptide therapy.
• To summarize current research on peptide-based tumor immunotherapy combined with other treatments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of oncolytic peptides in cancer research and clinical applications.
• Focus on photoactivatable oncolytic peptides for localized tumor treatment.
• Analysis of combination therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Main Results:

• Oncolytic peptides can induce cancer cell death and trigger immunogenic cell death.
• Photoactivatable peptides allow for localized activation, reducing systemic toxicity.
• These peptides can remodel the tumor microenvironment and enhance anticancer immunity.
• Combination therapies show synergistic effects in preclinical and clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• Oncolytic peptides offer a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy, with photoactivatable variants enhancing safety and efficacy.
• Further research is needed to overcome current limitations and optimize their clinical application.
• Peptide-based immunotherapy, especially in combination with other treatments, represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment paradigms.