Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer

Cancer has remained the second leading cause of death worldwide for over a century. Despite significant advances, effectively targeting cancer cells and overcoming therapeutic challenges remain critical goals. In this review, we focus on advanced metastatic prostate tumors, where the patients’ five-...

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Main Authors: Ying-Cheng Chen, Marxa Leão Figueiredo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1626432/full
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author Ying-Cheng Chen
Marxa Leão Figueiredo
author_facet Ying-Cheng Chen
Marxa Leão Figueiredo
author_sort Ying-Cheng Chen
collection DOAJ
description Cancer has remained the second leading cause of death worldwide for over a century. Despite significant advances, effectively targeting cancer cells and overcoming therapeutic challenges remain critical goals. In this review, we focus on advanced metastatic prostate tumors, where the patients’ five-year survival rate is less than 35%. While standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been effective for most prostate cancer patients, recurrence of aggressive tumors is common, emphasizing an urgent need for new treatment strategies. Immunotherapy has gained attention for its potential to harness the immune system against cancer cells. Among these, oncolytic virotherapy stands out for its tumor-specific tropism, its ability to transform or convert the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment by enhancing immune cell infiltration, and its capacity for therapeutic gene delivery. This review explores the background of commonly used viruses, evaluation models (including cell culture, animal models, ex vivo platforms, and clinical trials), and the anticipated outcomes and challenges of oncolytic virotherapy. By addressing these aspects, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of oncolytic virotherapy models in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-1f6118bd20fd4847917a96098be343e02025-08-20T03:40:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16264321626432Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancerYing-Cheng ChenMarxa Leão FigueiredoCancer has remained the second leading cause of death worldwide for over a century. Despite significant advances, effectively targeting cancer cells and overcoming therapeutic challenges remain critical goals. In this review, we focus on advanced metastatic prostate tumors, where the patients’ five-year survival rate is less than 35%. While standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been effective for most prostate cancer patients, recurrence of aggressive tumors is common, emphasizing an urgent need for new treatment strategies. Immunotherapy has gained attention for its potential to harness the immune system against cancer cells. Among these, oncolytic virotherapy stands out for its tumor-specific tropism, its ability to transform or convert the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment by enhancing immune cell infiltration, and its capacity for therapeutic gene delivery. This review explores the background of commonly used viruses, evaluation models (including cell culture, animal models, ex vivo platforms, and clinical trials), and the anticipated outcomes and challenges of oncolytic virotherapy. By addressing these aspects, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of oncolytic virotherapy models in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1626432/fulloncolytic virusmetastaticprostate cancerimmunotherapyvirotherapyexperimental
spellingShingle Ying-Cheng Chen
Marxa Leão Figueiredo
Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
Frontiers in Immunology
oncolytic virus
metastatic
prostate cancer
immunotherapy
virotherapy
experimental
title Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
title_full Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
title_fullStr Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
title_full_unstemmed Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
title_short Experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
title_sort experimental models for developing oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
topic oncolytic virus
metastatic
prostate cancer
immunotherapy
virotherapy
experimental
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1626432/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yingchengchen experimentalmodelsfordevelopingoncolyticvirotherapyformetastaticprostatecancer
AT marxaleaofigueiredo experimentalmodelsfordevelopingoncolyticvirotherapyformetastaticprostatecancer