Oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy for malignant glioma: current approaches to successful clinical application

ABSTRACT

Introduction: With the approval of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) for advanced malignant melanoma, virotherapy using oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is now emerging as a viable therapeutic option for cancer patients, including malignant gliomas.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the most recent literature to provide cutting-edge knowledge about preclinical and clinical development of oHSV therapy for malignant gliomas, presenting current approaches to overcome obstacles to successful clinical application of oHSV in neuro-oncology.

Expert opinion: Current strategies to improve the efficacy of oHSV therapy include engineering new viruses, modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, combination with other treatments, and developing new oHSV delivery. All of these could rapidly be translated into clinical investigations, following several clinical trials that are currently ongoing.

KEYWORDS:

• Glioblastoma
• high grade glioma
• oncolytic herpes simplex virus
• clinical trial

Article Highlights

• High-grade gliomas (HGG) in adults and children remain lethal disease that lacks effective treatment options.

• Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) has long been considered an attractive modality for HGG after early clinical trials showed safety and potential efficacy.

• Preclinical research on oHSV continues to advance multiple critical areas that include the development of novel potent viruses, combination strategies, immune-virotherapeutic combinations, and new delivery methods.

• Clinical trials are currently testing a newer generation of oHSVs in adult and pediatric patients with HGG.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer Disclosures

One of the peer reviewers on the manuscript is a founder and consultant of a company that is developing HSV oncolytic. Other peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.