Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus-Based Therapies for Cancer

Abstract

With the increased worldwide burden of cancer, including aggressive and resistant cancers, oncolytic virotherapy has emerged as a viable therapeutic option. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) can be genetically engineered to target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This leads to the direct killing of cancer cells and the activation of the host immunity to recognize and attack the tumor. Different variants of oHSV have been developed to optimize its antitumor effects. In this review, we discuss the development of oHSV, its antitumor mechanism of action and the clinical trials that have employed oHSV variants to treat different types of tumor.

Role of PARP in TNBC: Mechanism of Inhibition, Clinical Applications, and Resistance

“…Effective clinical strategies and increasing PARPi sensitivity may overcome drug resistance [ 37 , 49 , 58 , 79 ]. oHSV (PARPioncolytic herpes simplex virus) combination treatments are approved by the FDA for frequent melanoma, and are inherently engineered to selectively kill cancer cells, due to their characteristics of amplifying and spreading within the tumor but not normal tissue [ 105 ]. They are actively involved in manipulating DDR [ 105 ].…”

“…oHSV (PARPioncolytic herpes simplex virus) combination treatments are approved by the FDA for frequent melanoma, and are inherently engineered to selectively kill cancer cells, due to their characteristics of amplifying and spreading within the tumor but not normal tissue [ 105 ]. They are actively involved in manipulating DDR [ 105 ]. The combination treatment of MG18L with olaparib significantly improved efficacy in both PARPi-sensitive and -resistant GSC-derived tumors [ 29 , 56 , 63 , 64 , 65 ].…”

The Evolution and Future of Targeted Cancer Therapy: From Nanoparticles, Oncolytic Viruses, and Oncolytic Bacteria to the Treatment of Solid Tumors

“…Each of these exemplar fields of nanoparticle studies, which are reviewed in greater depth below, have characteristic differences that can be exploited and utilized for novel oncotherapeutic generation. [21], (B) liposomes [22], and (C) exosomes [23]; oncolytic viruses: (D) adenovirus [24], (E) herpes virus [25], and (F) vaccinia virus [26]; (G) oncolytic bacteria: G. Salmonella [27], (H) vegetative Clostridium [28], and (I) Clostridium spore [28].…”

“…Oncolytic viral therapy utilizes genetically modified viruses capable of selective replication in tumor cells to mediate oncotherapy (Figure 1D-F) [24,25,70,[73][74][75]. Unfortunately, early studies used unattenuated viruses with potent toxicities, almost ubiquitously resulting in severe-often fatal-adverse events [76], which not only halted on-going studies, but have had lasting impacts-stunting the development and translation of this technology [77].…”

“…Representative oncotherapeutic modality details, size comparison, and structural characteristics. Nanoparticles: (A) polymersomes[21], (B) liposomes[22], and (C) exosomes[23]; oncolytic viruses: (D) adenovirus[24], (E) herpes virus[25], and (F) vaccinia virus[26]; (G) oncolytic bacteria: G. Salmonella[27], (H) vegetative Clostridium[28], and (I) Clostridium spore[28].…”