RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:CellPress: Emerging Field of OV Based Cancer ImmunotherapyI have already posted that in the challenge of overcoming the hypoxia that characterizes solid tumors and a hostile TME, ONCY's oncolytic virus pelareorep (reovirus) is able to down-regulate HIF-1α signaling, resulting in HIF-1α inhibition, and by doing so is able to convert an otherwise aggressive and hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) into one that can promote T cell function, and is conducive for immune checkpoint inhibition, as the AWARE-1 study is demonstrating.
I now see that other immunol-oncology companies, including oncolytic virus companies, are trying to develop tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TILs) platforms and T-cell engagers to promote T-cell function, which ONCY has already been able to accomplish through its naturally occurring, systemically delivered oncolytic virus, pelareorep (reovirus) - and which SOLTI has been able to demonstrate in the AWARE-1 study as outlined in the following comment in ONCY's May 2022 press release
"The latest data from AWARE-1 further demonstrate pelareorep's potential to improve clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients through its ability to activate T cells and remodel the tumor microenvironment," said Thomas Heineman, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Oncolytics. "Notably, pelareorep treatment increased markers of tumor cell death and, perhaps even more impressive, 100% of evaluable pelareorep-treated patients had a favorable Risk of Recurrence Score (ROR-S) compared to 55% at baseline. Together, these latest AWARE-1 results further establish pelareorep's ability to attack tumors through multiple mechanisms."
https://www.oncolyticsbiotech.com/press-releases/detail/574/oncolytics-biotech-and-solti-present-new-clinical
This work will be followed up with a SOLTI presentation at SABC in December. Title: Pelareorep Primes the Tumor for Checkpoint Inhibition Therapy by Activating the Interferon-Gamma Signaling Pathway and Tumor Inflammation Signature in Early Breast Cancer Patients - Results of the AWARE-1 Trial
Program Number: PD4-03
Session Title: Spotlight Poster Discussion 4
Session Date: December 7, 2022
Session Time: 7 a.m. CT
Described in this abstract are the results of gene expression analyses from cohorts 1 and 2 of AWARE-1, a collaborative window-of-opportunity study in patients with early-stage breast cancer that was conducted by Oncolytics Biotech and SOLTI-Innovative Cancer Research. Cohorts 1 and 2 of AWARE-1 exclusively enrolled patients with the HR+/HER2- breast cancer subtype who were treated with pelareorep and letrozole without (cohort 1) or with (cohort 2) the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab.
Results published in the abstract showed that the studied combinations altered tumor microenvironments to induce and enhance anti-tumor immunity. Additional details on the analyses and results described in the abstract will be provided during the SABCS poster presentation in accordance with symposium embargo policies.