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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Going viral: targeting glioblastoma using oncolytic viruses
Katie Coates1, Robert J Nibbs1, Alasdair R Fraser1,2
1School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating malignant disease with a remarkably low 5-year survival rate and invariably poor prognosis. Current conventional treatment options (surgery, targeted radiotherapy, and a limited number of chemotherapies) are rarely entirely effective, leading to the majority of GBM patients experiencing disease recurrence shortly after primary treatment. Thus far, immunotherapeutic approaches towards GBM treatment have been largely unsuccessful due to the tumour site and profoundly immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME). However oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) has been recently developed and licenced for the treatment of cancers and has the potential to switch the TME to become immune-reactive. This has been shown to both directly reduce tumour burden while also enhancing responsiveness to other therapies. In this review, we review the challenges faced by standard immunotherapies in GBM and outline the various approaches to OV treatment of GBM. We highlight the promise of OVT for targeting GBM by critically assessing the outcomes from recent clinical trials.
Insights
Oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) shows promise for treating glioblastoma (GBM) by overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This approach may improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes for this aggressive brain cancer.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Virology
Background:
- Glioblastoma (GBM) presents a poor prognosis with limited treatment options and high recurrence rates.
- Conventional immunotherapies face challenges in GBM due to the tumor site and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review challenges in standard immunotherapy for GBM.
- To outline oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) approaches for GBM treatment.
- To assess the potential of OVT in GBM by analyzing clinical trial outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on GBM immunotherapy.
- Analysis of oncolytic virus therapy strategies for brain tumors.
- Critical evaluation of recent clinical trial data for OVT in GBM.
Main Results:
- Standard immunotherapies have shown limited success in GBM.
- Oncolytic viruses have the potential to modulate the TME towards an immune-reactive state.
- OVT may directly reduce tumor burden and enhance responses to other therapies.
Conclusions:
- Oncolytic virus therapy offers a promising new avenue for GBM treatment.
- OVT may overcome the immunosuppressive TME, improving therapeutic efficacy.
- Further clinical trials are crucial to establish OVT's role in GBM management.
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