Dynamics of Cytotoxic and Helper T Cell Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment Under Oncolytic Virotherapy

The immune system plays a critical role in both tumor development and therapeutic response. Oncolytic viruses can selectively replicate in cancer cells, and the lysis of infected cells releases viral particles, thereby spreading infection and promoting tumor clearance. We established an oncolytic virus-tumor-immune model incorporating key immune components, including helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells, to analyze the interaction mechanisms between oncolytic virotherapy and tumor immune responses, and to explore how these factors influence tumor progression under different therapeutic conditions. The results show that the cooperation between helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells is crucial for the effective elimination of tumor cells. Specifically, we observe that helper T cells enhance the immune-mediated tumor clearance. Moreover, the model suggests that increasing the infiltration rates of both helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells into the tumor site can greatly improve the effectiveness of oncolytic virotherapy. It offers theoretical support for optimizing treatment regimens and designing T cell-targeted combination immunotherapy strategies.