Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Therapy: Latest Advances, Core Challenges, and Future Outlook

Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy, particularly with oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), has become a promising new strategy in cancer treatment. This field has achieved significant clinical milestones, highlighted by the FDA approval of Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) for melanoma in 2015 and the approval of Teserpaturev/G47Δ for malignant glioma in Japan in 2021. This review synthesizes the key preclinical and clinical advancements in oHSV therapy over the last decade, critically analyzing the core challenges in target selection, genetic modification, administration routes, and targeted delivery. Key findings indicate that arming oHSV with immunomodulatory transgenes, such as cytokines and antibodies, and combining it with immune checkpoint inhibitors are critical strategies for enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Future research will focus on precision engineering using CRISPR/Cas9, the development of novel delivery vehicles like nanoparticles and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and biomarker-guided personalized medicine, aiming to provide safer and more effective solutions for refractory cancers. This review synthesizes oHSV advances and analyzes novel delivery and gene-editing strategies.