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Updated: May 20, 2025

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

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Oncolytic viruses as cancer therapeutics: From mechanistic insights to clinical translation

Akram Alwithenani1, Pranaidej Hengswat1, E Antonio Chiocca1

  • 1Harvey Cushing Neuro-oncology Laboratories, Department of Neurosurgery, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy
|March 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Oncolytic virotherapy uses viruses to kill cancer cells. Advances in engineering oncolytic viruses (OVs) and new strategies show promise for improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy utilizes viruses to selectively target and destroy cancer cells.
  • Viruses can induce direct cancer cell death and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.
  • Challenges include immune resistance, tumor evasion, and delivery issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of action for oncolytic viruses (OVs).
  • To discuss recent advances in OV engineering and emerging therapeutic strategies.
  • To highlight clinical trial findings and translational challenges.

Main Methods:

  • Overview of OV mechanisms: direct oncolysis, immune activation, tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation.
  • Review of engineering strategies: immunomodulatory arming, tumor-specific promoters, CRISPR-based editing.
  • Analysis of emerging approaches: dual-targeting OVs, viral enhancer drugs, and clinical trial data.

Main Results:

  • OVs exhibit diverse mechanisms for cancer cell destruction and immune stimulation.
  • Engineering advancements enhance OV specificity and efficacy.
  • Emerging strategies and clinical trials show therapeutic potential but face translational hurdles.

Conclusions:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy holds significant promise for cancer treatment.
  • Overcoming challenges in OV delivery, immune evasion, and resistance is crucial.
  • Continued innovation in OV engineering and strategic combinations will shape future cancer therapies.
Keywords:
OVcancerclinical trialsgene therapyglioblastoma

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