Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression

Summary: Therapeutic mRNA vaccines are limited in inducing tumor shrinkage in advanced cancers due to their inability to overcome immune-suppressive mechanisms within tumors. In this study, we developed an HPV-immunogen-expressing oncolytic virus (OV) using HSV-1 for HPV-related cancer treatment. A...

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Main Authors: Kuan Zhang, Dong Zuo, Zhenglong Wang, Jun Ding, Jiang Xu, Yin Liu, Yu Zhong, William Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Cell Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725005169
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author Kuan Zhang
Dong Zuo
Zhenglong Wang
Jun Ding
Jiang Xu
Yin Liu
Yu Zhong
William Jia
author_facet Kuan Zhang
Dong Zuo
Zhenglong Wang
Jun Ding
Jiang Xu
Yin Liu
Yu Zhong
William Jia
author_sort Kuan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Therapeutic mRNA vaccines are limited in inducing tumor shrinkage in advanced cancers due to their inability to overcome immune-suppressive mechanisms within tumors. In this study, we developed an HPV-immunogen-expressing oncolytic virus (OV) using HSV-1 for HPV-related cancer treatment. A mouse syngeneic tumor model evaluates the effectiveness of intratumoral OV application for E6+E7+ tumors. Comparative analysis of OV and mRNA vaccines reveals distinct mechanisms in tumor treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry show that OV enhances cytotoxic T cell infiltration, polarizes neutrophils and macrophages toward anti-tumor phenotypes, and promotes immune activation within the tumor. In contrast, the mRNA vaccine more effectively activates peripheral antigen-specific T cell responses. A heterologous prime-boost strategy using the mRNA vaccine to prime systemic T cells, followed by OV therapy to direct these cells into the tumor, leads to significant tumor regression. This combination optimizes both systemic and intratumoral immune responses for advanced HPV-related cancers.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2211-1247
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Cell Reports
spelling doaj-art-5d3b459e80b94ff7bc7a356226e0aae82025-08-20T03:08:55ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472025-06-0144611574510.1016/j.celrep.2025.115745Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppressionKuan Zhang0Dong Zuo1Zhenglong Wang2Jun Ding3Jiang Xu4Yin Liu5Yu Zhong6William Jia7Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, China; Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd, Richmond, BC V6V 3A4, CanadaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, ChinaShanghai Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201802, China; Virogin Biotech Co., Ltd, Richmond, BC V6V 3A4, Canada; Corresponding authorSummary: Therapeutic mRNA vaccines are limited in inducing tumor shrinkage in advanced cancers due to their inability to overcome immune-suppressive mechanisms within tumors. In this study, we developed an HPV-immunogen-expressing oncolytic virus (OV) using HSV-1 for HPV-related cancer treatment. A mouse syngeneic tumor model evaluates the effectiveness of intratumoral OV application for E6+E7+ tumors. Comparative analysis of OV and mRNA vaccines reveals distinct mechanisms in tumor treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry show that OV enhances cytotoxic T cell infiltration, polarizes neutrophils and macrophages toward anti-tumor phenotypes, and promotes immune activation within the tumor. In contrast, the mRNA vaccine more effectively activates peripheral antigen-specific T cell responses. A heterologous prime-boost strategy using the mRNA vaccine to prime systemic T cells, followed by OV therapy to direct these cells into the tumor, leads to significant tumor regression. This combination optimizes both systemic and intratumoral immune responses for advanced HPV-related cancers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725005169CP: ImmunologyCP: Cancer
spellingShingle Kuan Zhang
Dong Zuo
Zhenglong Wang
Jun Ding
Jiang Xu
Yin Liu
Yu Zhong
William Jia
Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
Cell Reports
CP: Immunology
CP: Cancer
title Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
title_full Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
title_fullStr Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
title_full_unstemmed Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
title_short Heterologous prime-boost with an mRNA vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
title_sort heterologous prime boost with an mrna vaccine and an oncolytic virus enhances tumor regression through overcoming intratumoral immune suppression
topic CP: Immunology
CP: Cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725005169
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