The Current State of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus for Glioblastoma Treatment

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal primary malignant brain tumor with no current effective treatments. The recent emergence of immuno-virotherapy and FDA approval of T-VEC have generated a great expectation towards oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) as a promising treatment option for GBM. Since the generation and testing of the first genetically engineered oHSV in glioma in the early 1990s, oHSV-based therapies have shown a long way of great progress in terms of anti-GBM efficacy and safety, both preclinically and clinically. Here, we revisit the literature to understand the recent advancement of oHSV in the treatment of GBM. In addition, we discuss current obstacles to oHSV-based therapies and possible strategies to overcome these pitfalls.

Keywords:

• glioblastoma
• oncolytic herpes simplex virus
• armed oHSV
• re-targeted oHSV
• combination therapy

Acknowledgments

DS is funded by a grant from DOD (W81XWH-20-1-0702) and Dodge Jones Foundation-Abilene.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.