Engineered oncolytic virus coated with anti-PD-1 and alendronate for ameliorating intratumoral T cell hypofunction.

in Experimental hematology & oncology by Yufu Zhu, Xuefeng Zhang, Jiaqi Jin, Xiaoqian Wang, Yang Liu, Jian Gao, Diancheng Hang, Lin Fang, Hengzhu Zhang, Hongmei Liu

TLDR

  • Researchers developed a novel therapeutic strategy by 'dressing' oncolytic viruses with anti-PD-1 antibodies and alendronate to improve immunotherapy outcomes against glioblastoma.

Abstract

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and devastating primary brain tumor that is resistant to conventional therapies. Oncolytic viruses represent a promising therapeutic approach for glioblastoma by selectively lysing tumor cells and eliciting an anti-tumor immune response. However, the clinical efficacy of oncolytic viruses is often hindered by challenges such as short persistence, host antiviral immune responses, and T cell dysfunction. We have developed a novel therapeutic strategy by "dressing" oncolytic viruses with anti-PD-1 antibodies and alendronate (PD-1/Al@OV) to prevent premature clearance of the oncolytic viruses and enhance T cell function, thereby improving immunotherapy outcomes against glioma. We found that in the high reactive oxygen species environment of the tumor, PD-1/Al@OV disassembled to release oncolytic viruses, anti-PD-1, and alendronate. The released anti-PD-1 blocked the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, activating T cells; the alendronate eliminated tumor-associated macrophages, increasing the concentration of oncolytic viruses; and the oncolytic viruses directly lysed cancer cells, enhancing intratumoral T cell infiltration. This approach effectively improved the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioblastoma and achieved a robust anti-tumor effect. Consequently, this study presents a novel strategy for immune combination therapy and the improvement of the glioblastoma immune microenvironment, thereby offering new prospects for the clinical application of oncolytic viruses.

Overview

  • The study focused on developing a novel therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma treatment using oncolytic viruses 'dressed' with anti-PD-1 antibodies and alendronate (PD-1/Al@OV) to improve immunotherapy outcomes.
  • The study aimed to address challenges associated with oncolytic viruses, such as short persistence, host antiviral immune responses, and T cell dysfunction, to enhance their efficacy against glioblastoma.
  • The primary objective of the study was to develop a novel approach for immune combination therapy and improve the glioblastoma immune microenvironment for the clinical application of oncolytic viruses.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study found that PD-1/Al@OV disassembled in the high reactive oxygen species environment of the tumor, releasing oncolytic viruses, anti-PD-1, and alendronate, which enhanced the anti-tumor effect.
  • The released anti-PD-1 blocked the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, activating T cells, while the alendronate eliminated tumor-associated macrophages, increasing the concentration of oncolytic viruses.
  • The oncolytic viruses directly lysed cancer cells, enhancing intratumoral T cell infiltration, which effectively improved the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioblastoma.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study presents a novel strategy for immune combination therapy, offering new prospects for the clinical application of oncolytic viruses in glioblastoma treatment.
  • The approach may be useful for addressing challenges associated with immunotherapy, such as T cell dysfunction and tumor-mediated immunosuppression, in various cancer types.
  • Future studies can investigate the use of PD-1/Al@OV in combination with other immunotherapies or targeted therapies to enhance their efficacy and broaden their therapeutic application.