The use of oncolytic viruses has become an attractive tool in the clinics for the treatment of various tumor types. Such viruses are genetically modified to conditionally replicate in malignant cells while unharming healthy cells. This platform offers a highly specific tumor killing with exceptional safety profiles. However, the use of oncolytic viruses as sole oncolytic platforms has not achieved full tumor clearance in murine models and in the clinics. In fact, the formation of anti-tumor immune responses is attributed to the effectiveness of oncolytic viruses. In this review, we will discuss the various strategies that scientists have employed to enhance the anti-tumor immune responses driven by oncolytic viruses. Moreover, focus will be drawn into personalizing such anti-tumor responses by the addition of tumor-associated peptides.
Keywords: cancer immunotherapies; cancer vaccines; oncolytic viruses.