Oncolytic viruses in lung cancer treatment: a review article

Combination therapy with oncolytic viruses for lung cancer treatment

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Despite various treatment options, adverse reactions and treatment resistance limit their clinical application and efficacy, therefore, new effective treatment options are still needed. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are a new anti-cancer option. With a powerful anti-tumor effect, OVs are gradually being applied to the treatment of solid tumor. In clinical practice, we have found that in patients with NSCLC and SCLC, OVs combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) treatment make tumor with poor response to immunotherapy become sensitive. Furthermore, studies have shown that OVs combined with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other immune approaches (such as anti-pd1 drugs) have synergistic effects. These studies suggest that OVs combined therapy may bring hope for the treatment of lung cancer patients. This article will review the current status and prospect of OVs combination therapy in the field of lung cancer treatment and summarizes the mechanism of action.

Repeated harvest enables efficient production of VSV-GP

Viral products keep gaining importance in multiple therapeutic fields. Considering the scale and production slot limitations, optimizing the outcome of every manufacturing batch is essential to minimize costs and make this therapeutic modality broadly available to patients. Most manufacturing processes for oncolytic viruses currently in clinical studies are based on a batch process. Here, we evaluated the benefits in terms of titer increase of a repeated harvest approach and compared it to the classical batch production process. While no effect on cell density was observed, the cumulated infectious titer following repeated harvest was over 400 times higher than the evaluated batch process yield. This shows that repeated harvests or perfusion have the potential to boost viral yields and should be considered when deciding on a process format for production.

Comparison of differences in immune cells and immune microenvironment among different kinds of oncolytic virus treatments

Oncolytic viruses are either naturally occurring or genetically engineered viruses that can activate immune cells and selectively replicate in and destroy cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues. Oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) represents an emerging treatment approach for cancer. In this review, we outline the properties of oncolytic viruses and then offer an overview of the immune cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) across various OVTs. A thorough understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in OVTs could lead to the identification of novel and more effective therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Oncolytic virotherapy against lung cancer: key receptors and signaling pathways of viral entry

Lung cancer accounts for the highest cancer-related mortality worldwide. While immunotherapies targeting anti-tumor immune responses have demonstrated efficacy in clinical practice, the demand for novel treatment modalities remains urgent. Oncolytic viruses (OVs), which selectively kill tumor cells while stimulating an anti-tumor immune response, represent a potential breakthrough in lung cancer therapy. The induction of anti-tumor immunity by OVs is central to their overall therapeutic effectiveness. Many natural receptors on the surface of cancer cells are dysregulated, providing potential entry points for OVs. Furthermore, the inherent dysregulation of some key signaling pathways in lung cancer cells promotes proliferation, progression and metastasis, which may facilitate selective viral replication. In this review, we explore the application of OVs in lung cancer by analyzing several major OVs and their corresponding entry receptors. Then, we also examine the key signaling pathways and molecules with the potential to synergize with OVs in modulating the immune tumor microenvironment. Finally, we discuss the combination and administration strategies that warrant further clinical trials for validation. Despite certain limitations, the tolerability of OVs positions virotherapy as a promising avenue in the future of lung cancer treatment.

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains a formidable global health challenge that necessitates inventive strategies to improve its therapeutic outcomes. The conventional treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, have demonstrated limitations in achieving sustained responses. Therefore, exploring novel approaches encompasses a range of interventions that show promise in enhancing the outcomes for patients with advanced or refractory cases of lung cancer. These groundbreaking interventions can potentially overcome cancer resistance and offer personalized solutions. Despite the rapid evolution of emerging lung cancer therapies, persistent challenges such as resistance, toxicity, and patient selection underscore the need for continued development. Consequently, the landscape of lung cancer therapy is transforming with the introduction of precision medicine, immunotherapy, and innovative therapeutic modalities. Additionally, a multifaceted approach involving combination therapies integrating targeted agents, immunotherapies, or traditional cytotoxic treatments addresses the heterogeneity of lung cancer while minimizing its adverse effects. This review provides a brief overview of the latest emerging therapies that are reshaping the landscape of lung cancer treatment. As these novel treatments progress through clinical trials are integrated into standard care, the potential for more effective, targeted, and personalized lung cancer therapies comes into focus, instilling renewed hope for patients facing challenging diagnoses.