Tumour microenvironment: Modulating effects, challenges, and future perspectives of oncolytic virotherapy in Astrocytoma treatment

Astrocytomas are the most common type of glioma and arise from astrocytes, which are star-shaped cells found in the cerebrum. Depending on the severity, current therapy include surgical excision, fractionated radiation, chemotherapy, temozolomide, etc. Despite these treatments, the average 5-year survival rate for astrocytomas is only 5%. Oncolytic Virotherapy (OVT) provides a novel treatment that could increase this survival rate and employs viruses to infect and kill tumor cells. Though the use of OVT for malignant melanoma and gliomas in general is well documented, there is a lack of substantial literature to guide the therapeutic effects of OVT in astrocytomas.