Oncolytic Virotherapy for High-Grade Glioma and Current Evidence and Factors to Consider for Incorporation Into Clinical Practice

Authors

Sauson Soldozy, Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, 100 Woods Road, Valhalla, New York, NY 10595, USA.
Daniel G. Eichberg, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Alexis A. Morell, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Evan Luther, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Victor M. Lu, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Dominique M. Higgins, Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina Medical Center, 101 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Nitesh V. Patel, Department of Neurosurgery, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Hackensack Meridian Health-Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA.
Ashish H. Shah, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Simon J. Hanft, Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, 100 Woods Road, Valhalla, New York, NY 10595, USA.
Ricardo J. Komotar, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Michael E. Ivan, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, 1295 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125, USA.

Author Type(s)

Resident/Fellow, Faculty

DOI

10.3390/pathogens12070861

Journal Title

Pathogens

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-22-2023

Department

Neurosurgery

Abstract

Brain tumor incidence is on the rise, and glioblastoma comprises the majority of primary tumors. Despite maximal safe resection and adjuvant chemoradiation, median survival for high-grade glioma remains poor. For this reason, it is important to develop and incorporate new treatment strategies. Oncolytic virotherapy has emerged as a viable new therapeutic entity to fill this gap. Preclinical research has shown oncolytic virotherapy to be a robust and effective treatment option for brain tumors, and clinical trials for both adult and pediatric high-grade glioma are underway. The unique and protected environment of the nervous system, in part due to the blood-brain barrier, prevents traditional systemic therapies from achieving adequate penetration. Brain tumors are also heterogenous in nature due to their diverse molecular profiles, further complicating systemic treatment efforts. Oncolytic viruses may serve to fill this gap in brain tumor treatment given their amenability to genetic modification and ability to target unique tumor epitopes. In addition, direct inoculation of the oncolytic virus agent to the tumor bed following surgical resection absolves risk of systemic side effects and ensures adequate delivery. As virotherapy transitions from bench to bedside, it is important to discuss factors to make this transition more seamless. In this article, we describe the current clinical evidence as it pertains to oncolytic virotherapy and the treatment of brain tumors as well as factors to consider for its incorporation into neurosurgical workflow.

Recommended Citation

Soldozy, S., Eichberg, D. G., Morell, A. A., Luther, E., Lu, V. M., Higgins, D. M., Patel, N. V., Shah, A. H., Hanft, S. J., Komotar, R. J., & Ivan, M. E. (2023). Oncolytic Virotherapy for High-Grade Glioma and Current Evidence and Factors to Consider for Incorporation Into Clinical Practice. Pathogens, 12 (7). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12070861