Possibility of high tumor-directed immune activation in viral infection-positive malignant tumors

Dr. Tsang E.S. and Dr. Munster P.N. state in the report that oncolytic viruses are of interest not only for their potential to infect tumor cells and by excessive viral replication that induces direct tumor cell death, but also for their ability to trigger tumor-directed immune activation for lasting tumor control.1

Ferris et al. demonstrated that in ONO-4538-11/CA209141 study, nivolumab monotherapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)–infected participants with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has provided a long survival of 9.1 months compared with the survival time (7.5 months) by nivolumab administration alone to HPV uninfected participants.2

In the clinical study conducted by our clinical research group, we investigated the treatment of 2,651 patients (OncoGuideTM NCC oncopanel test: 660 patients, Foundation One CDx test: 1991 patients) with cancer genomic medicine at national universities in Japan from December 2019 to November 2022. The treatment of 108 patients with advanced NPC was examined by cancer genomic medicine.

In our clinical research, the nivolumab monotherapy for HPV–infected participants with advanced NPC has provided a long survival of 10.2 months compared with the survival time (7.9 months) by nivolumab administration alone to HPV uninfected participants.3

In contrast to non-HPV-infected malignancies, the likelihood of detecting Tumor Mutation Burden High (TMB-H) or Microsatellite instability-High (MSI-H) in HPV-infected malignancies has not been demonstrated. However, tumor-directed immune activation is thought to be higher in virus-positive tumors compared to virus-negative tumors. Further clinical research may provide additional insights to clarify the selective molecular induction of tumor-directed immune activation in the virus infection-positive malignant tumor.

1. Tsang E.S. and Dr. Munster P.N. JAMA Oncol. 2023; 9(7): 894-896.
2. Ferris RL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2016; 375(19):1856-1867.
3. Hayashi T, Konishi I. World Journal of Oncology 2023; 14(4): 316-320.

We do not have potential conflicts of interest.

Published JAMA Oncology August 09, 2023. by Kyoto@takumaH
Doctor specializing in cancer care.
Doctor specializing in emerging infectious diseases.