Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Arrest and Attack: Microtubule-Targeting Agents and Oncolytic Viruses Employ Complementary Mechanisms to Enhance
1Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
Abstract:
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are promising cancer immunotherapy agents that stimulate anti-tumor immunity through the preferential infection and killing of tumor cells. OVs are currently under limited clinical usage, due in part to their restricted efficacy as monotherapies. Current efforts for enhancement of the therapeutic potency of OVs involve their combination with other therapy modalities, aiming at the concomitant exploitation of complementary tumor weaknesses. In this context, microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) pose as an enticing option, as they perturb microtubule dynamics and function, induce cell-cycle arrest, and cause mitotic cell death. MTAs induce therapeutic benefit through cancer-cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms and are a main component of the standard of care for different malignancies. However, off-target effects and acquired resistance involving distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms may limit the overall efficacy of MTA-based therapy. When combined, OVs and MTAs may enhance therapeutic efficacy through increases in OV infection and immunogenic cell death and a decreased probability of acquired resistance. In this review, we introduce OVs and MTAs, describe molecular features of their activity in cancer cells, and discuss studies and clinical trials in which the combination has been tested.
Insights
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) and microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) show potential in cancer therapy. Combining OVs with MTAs may improve efficacy by enhancing anti-tumor immunity and reducing resistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Virology
Background:
- Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging cancer immunotherapies that selectively infect and destroy tumor cells, stimulating anti-tumor immune responses.
- The clinical efficacy of OVs as monotherapies is limited, necessitating combination strategies to enhance their therapeutic potency.
- Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are standard cancer treatments that induce cell death by disrupting microtubule dynamics, but can cause off-target effects and resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of combining oncolytic viruses (OVs) with microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) for enhanced cancer therapy.
- To describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of OVs and MTAs in cancer cells.
- To discuss existing studies and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of OV-MTA combination therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical studies and clinical trials on oncolytic viruses and microtubule-targeting agents.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms of action for both therapeutic modalities.
- Synthesis of data on combination therapy outcomes, including efficacy and resistance patterns.
Main Results:
- The combination of OVs and MTAs may synergistically enhance anti-tumor immunity and tumor cell killing.
- MTAs can potentially increase OV infection and promote immunogenic cell death in cancer cells.
- Combined therapy may overcome resistance mechanisms associated with individual treatments, improving overall therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Combining oncolytic viruses with microtubule-targeting agents represents a promising strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
- This combination approach leverages complementary mechanisms to target tumor weaknesses and enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
- Further clinical investigation is warranted to fully realize the therapeutic potential of OV-MTA combinations in various malignancies.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...