Oncolytic viruses can selectively infect cancer cells to stimulate cell death and antiviral and antitumor immune responses. Fares et al. report a phase 1 trial in patients with high-grade glioma treated with an engineered oncolytic adenovirus delivered by neural stem cells (NSCs). Delivery of oncolytic viruses in NSCs has been previously shown in mouse models to improve the delivery and distribution of virus particles within gliomas. The 12 patients underwent surgical resection, and the NSCs containing oncolytic virus were injected into the brain. The patients were then treated with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. The trial showed that the NSC-oncolytic virus treatment was safe, and there was some evidence of immune stimulation and potential survival benefit, although this was not a placebo-controlled study.
Lancet Oncol. 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00245-X (2021).