Oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) vectors: Increasing treatment efficacy and range through strategic virus design

Liang

Sig Transduct Target Ther

et al. 2023

Human diseases, particularly infectious diseases and cancers, pose unprecedented challenges to public health security and the global economy. The development and distribution of novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are the prioritized countermeasures of human disease. Among all vaccine platforms, viral vector vaccines offer distinguished advantages and represent prominent choices for pathogens that have hampered control efforts based on conventional vaccine approaches. Currently, viral vector vaccines remain one of the best strategies for induction of robust humoral and cellular immunity against human diseases. Numerous viruses of different families and origins, including vesicular stomatitis virus, rabies virus, parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Newcastle disease virus, influenza virus, adenovirus and poxvirus, are deemed to be prominent viral vectors that differ in structural characteristics, design strategy, antigen presentation capability, immunogenicity and protective efficacy. This review summarized the overall profile of the design strategies, progress in advance and steps taken to address barriers to the deployment of these viral vector vaccines, simultaneously highlighting their potential for mucosal delivery, therapeutic application in cancer as well as other key aspects concerning the rational application of these viral vector vaccines. Appropriate and accurate technological advances in viral vector vaccines would consolidate their position as a leading approach to accelerate breakthroughs in novel vaccines and facilitate a rapid response to public health emergencies.

Section: Application Of Viral Vectors As Therapeutic Vaccines Against...mentioning

confidence: 94%

Viral vectored vaccines: design, development, preventive and therapeutic applications in human diseases

Liang

Sig Transduct Target Ther

et al. 2023

“…Although early studies like the aforementioned were considered groundbreaking, no further attention was given to the use of viruses as potential antineoplastic therapies, mainly due to the moderate efficacy and the unacceptable side effects that raised considerable concerns. Ultimately, the emergence of modern genetic engineering in the 1990s allowed the concept of viral oncolysis to resurface with renewed potential as an alternative cancer therapy [89].…”

Section: Clinical Trialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing Oncolytic Viruses for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Kalafati

Drakopoulou

Anagnou

et al. 2023

Cells

Cervical cancer represents one of the most important malignancies among women worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches for cervical cancer are reported not only to be inadequate for metastatic cervical cancer, but are also considered as cytotoxic for several patients leading to serious side effects, which can have negative implications on the quality of life of women. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative and effective treatment options. Oncolytic viruses can eventually become effective biological agents, since they preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, while leaving the normal tissue unaffected. Moreover, they are also able to leverage the host immune system response to limit tumor growth. This review aims to systematically describe and discuss the different types of oncolytic viruses generated for targeting cervical cancer cells, as well as the outcome of the combination of virotherapy with conventional therapies. Although many preclinical studies have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses in cervical cancer, the number of clinical trials so far is limited, while their oncolytic properties are currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of other malignancies.

Dual silencing of Bcl-2 and Survivin by HSV-1 vector shows better antitumor efficacy in higher PKR phosphorylation tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

Chen

Zhou

Wang³

et al. 2015

Cancer Gene Ther

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising tool for cancer therapy, but its delivery strategy is a major challenge for its application. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is not only an effective antitumor drug but also an excellent vector. Herein, RNAi of oncogenes Bcl-2 and Survivin was combined with oncolytic HSV-1 (ICP34.5-/ICP6-/ICP47-/CMV-GM-CSF) and a new vector HSV010-BS was constructed. Transfected cell viability assays and animal experiments revealed that the dual silencing of Bcl-2 and Survivin improved the antitumor effect of oncolytic HSV-1 in vitro and in vivo, while the antitumor effect was correlated with the phosphorylation levels of PKR of the tumor cells. The higher the phosphorylation levels of PKR of the tumor cells, the weaker the replication ability of oncolytic HSV-1, and the more powerful HSV010-BS was than its control vectors in inhibiting the growth of the tumor cells. The results provided direct supportive proofs for a new potential cancer therapy strategy.