Harnessing Oncolytic Herpes Virus for Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

This article provides a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of oncolytic herpes virus (OHV) in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, emphasizing its potential as a novel therapeutic approach. One of the most common diseases in the world is Gastrointestinal cancer. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the digestive tract and other abdominal organs. There are several distinct types of GI cancers, including cancer of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, small bowel, colon, rectum, and anus. Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors can influence its development. Oncolytic herpes viruses are a type of oncolytic virus that have been engineered from the herpes simplex virus (HSV). These viruses have been modified to selectively replicate within and destroy cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Method: A systematic analysis of existing literature, clinical trials, and preclinical studies was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of OHV in targeting gastrointestinal malignancies.Two main mechanisms exist through which these viruses are reported to improve outcomes: direct lysis of tumor cells and indirect augmentation of host anti-tumor immunity. oncolytic virus infects and lyses tumor cells through immediate early gene inhibition of cell death pathways in the early stages, and subsequently, when the virus continues to proliferate and assemble, cellular autophagy, apoptosis, and necroptosis are prompted to lyse tumor cells. results: The findings underscore the selective oncolytic properties of OHV, its ability to induce tumor cell lysis, and its potential for enhancing immune responses against cancer cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are novel anti-tumor agents with the ability to selectively infect and kill tumor cells while sparing normal tissue. Beyond tumor cytolysis,OVs are capable of priming an anti-tumor immune response via lysis and cross-presentation of locally expressed endogenous tumor antigens, acting as an endovaccine. The herpes simplex virus has several characteristics like large genome and power to infiltrate in the tumor,easy access to manipulation with the flexibility to insert multiple transgenes,infecting majority of the malignant cell types with quick replication in the infected cells, that make it a promising candidate for oncolytic therapy. Conclusions: OHV shows promise as a potent therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal cancers, offering a targeted and innovative treatment strategy that warrants further exploration and clinical development.

کلیدواژه ها:

Oncolytic herpes virus ، gastrointestinal cancers ، virotherapy ، tumor targeting ، immune modulation