Antitumor Benefits of Antiviral Immunity: An Underappreciated Aspect of Oncolytic Virotherapies

Shashi Gujar; Jonathan G Pol; Youra Kim; Patrick W Lee; Guido Kroemer

doi:10.1016/j.it.2017.11.006

Antitumor Benefits of Antiviral Immunity: An Underappreciated Aspect of Oncolytic Virotherapies

Trends Immunol. 2018 Mar;39(3):209-221. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2017.11.006. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

Authors

Shashi Gujar¹, Jonathan G Pol², Youra Kim³, Patrick W Lee⁴, Guido Kroemer⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada; Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada; Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Health Sciences Research, Quality and System Performance, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada; These authors contributed equally to this work.
² Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France; INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; These authors contributed equally to this work.
³ Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada; Share senior co-authorship. Electronic address: patrick.lee@dal.ca.
⁵ Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France; INSERM, U1138, Paris, France; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France; Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Share senior co-authorship. Electronic address: kroemer@orange.fr.

PMID: 29275092
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2017.11.006

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a new class of cancer immunotherapeutics. Administration of OVs to cancer-bearing hosts induces two distinct immunities: antiviral and antitumor. While antitumor immunity is beneficial, antiviral immune responses are often considered detrimental for the efficacy of OV-based therapy. The existing dogma postulates that anti-OV immune responses restrict viral replication and spread, and thus reduce direct OV-mediated killing of cancer cells. Accordingly, a myriad of therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating anti-OV immune responses is presently being tested. Here, we advocate that OV-induced antiviral immune responses hold intrinsic anticancer benefits and are essential for establishing clinically desired antitumor immunity. Thus, to achieve the optimal efficacy of OV-based cancer immunotherapies, strategic management of anti-OV immune responses is of critical importance.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
Humans
Immunity
Immunization
Immunotherapy / methods*
Neoplasms / immunology
Neoplasms / therapy*
Neoplasms / virology
Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods*
Oncolytic Viruses / physiology*
Virus Replication

Substances

Antigens, Neoplasm

Grants and funding

CIHR/Canada