Abstract
The pivotal involvement of the host immune system in cancer therapy has dramatically reshaped therapeutic paradigms, inaugurating the era of immunotherapy. Nonetheless, antigen-specific immunotherapies encounter substantial hurdles within the highly immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioblastoma (GBM), which thwarts antitumor T-cell immunity. Oncolytic viruses (OVs), a form of immunotherapy that inflames the GBM microenvironment, have been subject to clinical evaluation, yielding promising outcomes. Evidence increasingly indicates that OVs can modify the GBM microenvironment from an immunosuppressive to an immune active state, facilitating enhanced antitumor responses. Clinical trials demonstrate that oncolytic virotherapy is generally well-tolerated, generating data about its immune-activating effects. "Window of opportunity" trials provide insights into viral replication, pre-existing immunity, and delivery methods. However, constraints in post-treatment sampling may impede comprehensive analyses of the virotherapy-induced biological and immunological changes. This review discusses current advancements and persistent challenges in GBM trials involving OVs.
Overview
- The study focuses on the role of oncolytic viruses (OVs) in glioblastoma (GBM) therapy and their potential to modify the GBM microenvironment to awaken antitumor T-cell immunity.
- The study aims to summarize current advancements and challenges in GBM trials involving OVs, exploring their immune-activating effects and limitations.
- The primary objective is to investigate the promise of OVs as a therapeutic strategy for GBM treatment, highlighting the significance of understanding the GBM microenvironment and its implications for immunotherapy.
Comparative Analysis & Findings
- The study highlights the promising outcomes of oncolytic virotherapy in clinical trials, demonstrating its immune-activating effects and enhanced antitumor responses.
- The review emphasizes the importance of understanding the GBM microenvironment, including viral replication, pre-existing immunity, and delivery methods, to overcome immunosuppression and enhance therapeutic efficacy.
- Despite the promise of OVs, constraints in post-treatment sampling may limit comprehensive analysis of the biological and immunological changes induced by virotherapy, highlighting the need for improved sampling strategies.
Implications and Future Directions
- The study underscores the significance of understanding the GBM microenvironment to develop effective immunotherapies, emphasizing the potential of OVs as a therapeutic strategy for GBM treatment.
- Future research directions include optimizing delivery methods, understanding pre-existing immunity, and investigating novel approaches to enhance virotherapy-induced antitumor responses.
- Better post-treatment sampling strategies are needed to comprehensively analyze the biological and immunological changes induced by virotherapy, enabling the development of more effective treatments.