Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary

The rising incidence and consequent health care burden of nonmelanoma skin cancers, including cutaneous lymphomas, are a growing cause for concern. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging immunotherapies with limited literature on their use. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate their role in no...

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Main Authors: Felicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP, Darryl Kai Xian Chin, Yiming Zhu, Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:JAAD International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266632872500015X
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author Felicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP
Darryl Kai Xian Chin
Yiming Zhu
Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc
author_facet Felicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP
Darryl Kai Xian Chin
Yiming Zhu
Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc
author_sort Felicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP
collection DOAJ
description The rising incidence and consequent health care burden of nonmelanoma skin cancers, including cutaneous lymphomas, are a growing cause for concern. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging immunotherapies with limited literature on their use. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate their role in nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma treatment (CRD42024526854). We identified 11 published studies involving a total of 20 patients (squamous cell carcinoma n = 3, Merkel cell carcinoma n = 7, cutaneous T cell lymphoma n = 9, basal cell carcinoma n = 1). OVs used include Talimogene laherparepvec (73%, n = 8), measles virus (9%, n = 1), vesicular stomatitis virus (9%, n = 1), and adenovirus (9%, n = 1). Complete response occurred in 67% (n = 2) of squamous cell carcinoma cases, 85% (n = 6) of Merkel cell carcinoma cases, and 11% (n = 1) of cutaneous T cell lymphoma cases. The most common adverse event was fever or flu-like symptoms (n = 5, 25%). Fourteen unpublished clinical trials investigating regimes such as OV monotherapy (43%, n = 6), combination therapy with existing immunotherapy (21%, n = 3), and comparing OV combination versus monotherapy (29%, n = 4) or versus immune checkpoint inhibitor alone (7%, n = 1). Overall, heterogeneity of existing studies significantly limits generalizability of results. Further research is needed to reveal the potential role of OVs in the future of nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-60eccabad3bd44b68c4cc2857dcee7112025-08-20T03:10:00ZengElsevierJAAD International2666-32872025-06-012042010.1016/j.jdin.2024.11.010Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule SummaryFelicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP0Darryl Kai Xian Chin1Yiming Zhu2Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc3Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, SingaporeYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Correspondence to: Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc, Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, 20 College Rd, Academia, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.The rising incidence and consequent health care burden of nonmelanoma skin cancers, including cutaneous lymphomas, are a growing cause for concern. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging immunotherapies with limited literature on their use. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate their role in nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma treatment (CRD42024526854). We identified 11 published studies involving a total of 20 patients (squamous cell carcinoma n = 3, Merkel cell carcinoma n = 7, cutaneous T cell lymphoma n = 9, basal cell carcinoma n = 1). OVs used include Talimogene laherparepvec (73%, n = 8), measles virus (9%, n = 1), vesicular stomatitis virus (9%, n = 1), and adenovirus (9%, n = 1). Complete response occurred in 67% (n = 2) of squamous cell carcinoma cases, 85% (n = 6) of Merkel cell carcinoma cases, and 11% (n = 1) of cutaneous T cell lymphoma cases. The most common adverse event was fever or flu-like symptoms (n = 5, 25%). Fourteen unpublished clinical trials investigating regimes such as OV monotherapy (43%, n = 6), combination therapy with existing immunotherapy (21%, n = 3), and comparing OV combination versus monotherapy (29%, n = 4) or versus immune checkpoint inhibitor alone (7%, n = 1). Overall, heterogeneity of existing studies significantly limits generalizability of results. Further research is needed to reveal the potential role of OVs in the future of nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266632872500015Xepidemiologynonmelanoma skin canceroncolytic virusvirotherapy
spellingShingle Felicia Li Ling Ong, MBBS, MRCP
Darryl Kai Xian Chin
Yiming Zhu
Choon Chiat Oh, MBBS, MRCP, MSc
Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
JAAD International
epidemiology
nonmelanoma skin cancer
oncolytic virus
virotherapy
title Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
title_full Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
title_fullStr Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
title_full_unstemmed Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
title_short Oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma – A systematic reviewCapsule Summary
title_sort oncolytic viral therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma a systematic reviewcapsule summary
topic epidemiology
nonmelanoma skin cancer
oncolytic virus
virotherapy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266632872500015X
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