Oncolytic viral vectors in the era of diversified cancer therapy: from preclinical to clinical

Abstract

With the in-depth research and wide application of immunotherapy recently, new therapies based on oncolytic viruses are expected to create new prospects for cancer treatment via eliminating the suppression of the immune system by tumors. Currently, an increasing number of viruses are developed and engineered, and various virus vectors based on effectively stimulating human immune system to kill tumor cells have been approved for clinical treatment. Although the virus can retard the proliferation of tumor cells, the choice of oncolytic viruses in biological cancer therapy is equally critical given their therapeutic efficacy, safety and adverse effects. Moreover, previously known oncolytic viruses have not been systematically classified. Therefore, in this review, we summarized and distinguished the characteristics of several common types of oncolytic viruses: herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, measles virus, Newcastle disease virus, reovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. Subsequently, we outlined that these oncolytic viral vectors have been transformed from preclinical studies in combination with immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and nanoparticles into clinical therapeutic strategies for various advanced solid malignancies or circulatory system cancers.

Oncolytic viral therapy as promising immunotherapy against glioma

“…162 Reovirus has a targeted lytic effect on cells activated by the RAS pathway, such as malignant gliomas cells and breast cancer cells. 163 Clinical trials and preclinical studies of Reovirus have shown great promise. 164 H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV) is a self-propagating virus with oncolytic and tumor-suppressing activity and is nonpathogenic in humans.…”

“…Reovirus are nonenveloped virus with 9–12 linear double‐stranded RNA that occurs naturally in the mammalian respiratory and intestinal systems 162 . Reovirus has a targeted lytic effect on cells activated by the RAS pathway, such as malignant gliomas cells and breast cancer cells 163 . Clinical trials and preclinical studies of Reovirus have shown great promise 164 .…”

The Undefinable Links: Unraveling the Mysterious Relationships Between Viruses and the Human

“…Some viruses, such as oncolytic viruses like the herpes simplex virus (HSV), not only act as delivery vectors for gene therapy but can also selectively infect and destroy tumor cells while simultaneously stimulating immune responses (Niemann & Kühnel, 2017). When HSV is used for oncolytic therapy, knocking out the main gene that HSV infects and replicates in normal cells can improve the targeting of HSVinfected tumor cells and enable them to selectively replicate in tumor cells (Tang et al, 2022). Besides, viral vectors are also being used in the development of vaccines.…”

Nanotechnology for Pediatric Retinoblastoma Therapy

“…In Table 3 the combination studies of nanoparticles drug therapy with other effective therapies against RB are summarized. Finally, it is necessary to mention the last frontier of RB treatment which involved the use of oncolytic viral vectors that can be included in the nanomedicine approach [33,99,100].…”