Oncolytic Immunotherapy for Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Immunotherapy entails the treatment of disease by modulation of the immune system. As detailed in the previous chapters, the different modes of achieving immune modulation are many, including the use of small/large molecules, cellular therapy, and radiation. Oncolytic viruses that can specifically attack, replicate within, and destroy tumors represent one of the most promising classes of agents for cancer immunotherapy (recently termed as oncolytic immunotherapy). The notion of oncolytic immunotherapy is considered as the way in which virus-induced tumor cell death (known as immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD)) allows the immune system to recognize tumor cells and provide long-lasting antitumor immunity. Both immune responses toward the virus and ICD together contribute toward successful antitumor efficacy. What is now becoming increasingly clear is that monotherapies, through any of the modalities detailed in this book, are neither sufficient in eradicating tumors nor in providing long-lasting antitumor immune responses and that combination therapies may deliver enhanced efficacy. After the rise of the genetic engineering era, it has been possible to engineer viruses to harbor combination-like characteristics to enhance their potency in cancer immunotherapy. This chapter provides a historical background on oncolytic virotherapy and its future application in cancer immunotherapy, especially as a combination therapy with other treatment modalities.

Short Overview of Clinical Trials With Current Immunotherapeutic Tools for Cancer Treatment

“…Многочисленные исследования показали, что основным фактором эффективности онколитической виротерапии является способность вирусов стимулировать иммунные реакции. Молекулярные паттерны, ассоциированные с повреждением (DAMPdanger associated molecular patterns) и опухоле-ассоциированные антигены, высвобождаемые из лизированных опухолевых клеток, стимули-руют активацию как врожденных неспецифиче-ских иммунных реакций, так и формирование антиген-специфического противоопухолевого ответа [11,83]. Важную роль активации иммун-ного ответа подтверждают, в частности, экспе-рименты, проведенные в мышиной модели.…”

Oncolytic Virotherapy and Microenvironment in Multiple Myeloma

“…The mechanisms of action of oncolytic viruses can be direct, through selective replication within neoplastic cells, or indirect through alterations of the tumor microenvironment that lead to the induction of the antitumor immune response [12,13]. Several oncolytic viruses have shown promising results for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors [14][15][16] and the possibility of using these viruses in tumor immunotherapy has emerged in recent years [17,18]. Researchers are harnessing all the characteristics of viruses, enhancing their effect on cancer cells and awakening and activating the immune system [19].…”

Targeting STAT3 enhances NDV‐induced immunogenic cell death in prostate cancer cells

“…Among the DAMPs, surface‐exposed CRT and exogenous ATP serve as ‘get me’ and ‘ingest me’ indications, to the immune cells, respectively . To date, a growing number of OVs have been shown to elicit ICD in a variety of cancers . We and others recently found that oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), mediates ICD in neoplastic cells of glioblastoma, lung cancer and melanoma .…”