Advances in oncolytic viruses immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a significant global health challenge.
• Current treatment options for HCC have limitations, driving the need for novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the therapeutic potential of novel oncolytic viruses (OVs) for liver cancer, with a specific focus on HCC.
• To evaluate the performance of different OVs in treating liver cancer and identify challenges in clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Systematic synthesis of preclinical and clinical studies on various OVs, including Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Adenovirus (AdV), Vaccinia virus (VV), Coxsackievirus (COX), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV).
• Analysis of OV mechanisms, including selective tumor cell lysis and induction of anti-tumor immunity.

Main Results:

• OVs demonstrate selective tumor cell lysis and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.
• HSV and VV show high efficacy and safety. Genetically engineered AdV and NDV, particularly those expressing immune modulators, exhibit promising anti-tumor activity.
• Improvements in viral engineering and delivery enhance tumor selectivity and immune activation, but challenges such as host antiviral immunity, delivery efficiency, and patient selection persist.

Conclusions:

• Oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) is a promising immunotherapeutic approach for liver cancer.
• Genetic modifications have significantly improved OV efficacy and safety, but continued innovation in viral engineering and combination therapies is crucial for clinical success.