The Clinical Advances of Oncolytic Viruses in Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

A promising future for oncology treatment has been brought about by the emergence of a novel approach utilizing oncolytic viruses in cancer immunotherapy. Oncolytic viruses are viruses that have been exploited genetically to assault malignant cells and activate a robust immune response. Several techniques have been developed to endow viruses with an oncolytic activity through genetic engineering. For instance, redirection capsid modification, stimulation of anti-neoplastic immune response, and genetically arming viruses with cytokines such as IL-12. Oncolytic viral clinical outcomes are sought after, particularly in more advanced cancers. The effectiveness and safety profile of the oncolytic virus in clinical studies with or without the combination of standard treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or primary excision) has been assessed using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). This review will comprehensively outline the most recent clinical applications and provide the results from various phases of clinical trials in a variety of cancers in the latest published literature.

Oncolytic viral therapy as promising immunotherapy against glioma

“…The results suggest that the addition of TVEC may increase the complete response rate 295 . Furthermore, preclinical studies and early clinical trials have found that oncolytic virus therapy in these malignant tumors such as pancreatic cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, cervical cancer, and bladder cancer shows certain therapeutic potential and good safety 296 . These good treatment effects also show that oncolytic virus will become the main force of tumor treatment in the future.…”

Enhancing antitumor efficacy of oncolytic virus M1 via albendazole-sustained CD8+ T cell activation

“…The oncolytic virus therapy has emerged as an anti-tumor therapy with its unique features of targeted oncolytic killing and immune activation, offering new hope for the cure of tumors. 24 , 25 , 26 The natural oncolytic virus M1 achieves high safety and efficacy by selectively replicating and destroying tumor cells that lack zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP), without harming normal cells. 27 It is regarded as a novel oncolytic virus with great development potential.…”

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Lung Cancer

“…The main mechanism of OVs involves inducing specific antitumor immune responses and selective cell death, resulting in tumor cell lysis and a reduction in tumor progression [ 98 ]. Currently, clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the effectiveness of the following OVs in treating lung cancer: RT-10 (NCT05205421), ADV/HSV-tk (NCT03004183), MEM-288 (NCT05076760), and YSCH-01 (NCT05180851) [ 99 ]. A clinical investigation demonstrated that Oncorine (previously known as H101), a modified human adenovirus type 5, caused stable disease with partial necrosis of the lung tissue when combined with nivolumab and anlotinib in a recurrent NSCLC patient who had developed resistance to nivolumab [ 100 ].…”