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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
12:42

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

Published on: January 7, 2019

Oncolytic virus-drug conjugates for increased viral replication efficiency and potentiated cancer chemoimmunotherapy

Tao Zhang1, Weiyue Ban1, Chengda Yan2

  • 1Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China.

Biomaterials
|July 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study introduces autophagy-activated oncolytic adenoviruses-doxorubicin conjugates for enhanced cancer chemoimmunotherapy. These conjugates improve drug delivery, viral replication, and immune response against tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy faces challenges in systemic delivery, tumor replication, and immune activation for cancer treatment.
  • Current strategies require improvement for effective chemoimmunotherapy against malignant cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop autophagy-activated oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads)-doxorubicin (DOX) conjugates for enhanced cancer chemoimmunotherapy.
  • To improve the co-delivery efficiency and intratumoral replication of OVs.
  • To potentiate the therapeutic outcomes by integrating virotherapy and chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of Ads-DOX conjugates with Ads coated in a lipid membrane containing autophagy-responsive DOX prodrugs.
  • Intravenous administration of Ads-DOX conjugates for targeted delivery to tumor lesions.
  • Assessment of Ads-induced autophagy, DOX release, viral replication, and immune cell infiltration.

Main Results:

  • Ads-DOX conjugates demonstrated efficient co-delivery to tumors.
  • Ads induced intracellular autophagy, leading to DOX release and further autophagy activation.
  • Autophagosomes enhanced viral replication and augmented intratumoral cytotoxic T cell infiltration, improving chemoimmunotherapy efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy-activated oncolytic adenovirus-doxorubicin conjugates offer a potent strategy for cancer chemoimmunotherapy.
  • This approach enhances OV delivery, replication, and immune response, overcoming current limitations.
  • The conjugates represent a promising translational strategy for improved cancer treatment by combining virotherapy and chemotherapy.
Keywords:
AutophagyChemoimmunotherapyDrug deliveryOncolytic adenoviruses (Ads)-doxorubicin (DOX) conjugatesOncolytic virus (OVs) therapy

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