Advances in preclinical and clinical studies of oncolytic virus combination therapy

Wenlong Du1, Jintong Na1, Liping Zhong1,2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Major New Drugs Innovation and Development, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|February 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic viruses kill tumor cells. Combining them with other therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and cell therapies shows promise for improved cancer treatment and clinical translation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Oncolytic viruses selectively target and destroy cancer cells, sparing healthy ones.
  • Oncolytic viruses face challenges as monotherapies, necessitating combination strategies.
  • Combining oncolytic viruses with other treatments is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review oncolytic virus tumor-killing mechanisms.
  • To explore combinations of oncolytic viruses with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T, and CAR-NK therapies.
  • To provide insights for clinical translation of oncolytic virus combination therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of oncolytic virus mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of research on combining oncolytic viruses with various therapeutic modalities.
  • Overview of current clinical trials involving oncolytic virus combinations.

Main Results:

  • Oncolytic viruses exhibit diverse tumor-killing mechanisms.
  • Combination therapies enhance the efficacy of oncolytic viruses.
  • Clinical trials demonstrate the potential of these combined approaches.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic virus combination therapies offer significant potential for cancer treatment.
  • Further research and clinical trials are crucial for optimizing these treatments.
  • This review provides a foundation for advancing oncolytic virus combination therapy translation.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
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...
7.5K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
463
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
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...
325
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.8K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.4K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
826