A Roadmap for the Success of Oncolytic Parvovirus-Based Anticancer Therapies

Annu Rev Virol. 2020 Sep 29;7(1):537-557. doi: 10.1146/annurev-virology-012220-023606. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Abstract

Autonomous rodent protoparvoviruses (PVs) are promising anticancer agents due to their excellent safety profile, natural oncotropism, and oncosuppressive activities. Viral infection can trigger immunogenic cell death, activating the immune system against the tumor. However, the efficacy of this treatment in recent clinical trials is moderate compared with results seen in preclinical work. Various strategies have been employed to improve the anticancer activities of oncolytic PVs, including development of second-generation parvoviruses with enhanced oncolytic and immunostimulatory activities and rational combination of PVs with other therapies. Understanding the cellular factors involved in the PV life cycle is another important area of investigation. Indeed, these studies may lead to the identification of biomarkers that would allow a more personalized use of PV-based therapies. This review focuses on this work and the challenges that still need to be overcome to move PVs forward into clinical practice as an effective therapeutic option for cancer patients.

Keywords: H-1PV; cancer therapy; combination therapy; oncolytic parvovirus; oncolytic virus; second-generation parvoviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods*
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / standards
  • Oncolytic Viruses / pathogenicity*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / virology*
  • Parvovirus / pathogenicity*
  • Rodentia / virology
  • Viral Tropism*