ABSTRACT

With a median overall survival of around 15–20 months after full surgical resection, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy, glioblastoma (GBM) continues to be the most aggressive and treatment-resistant primary brain tumor in humans. The effectiveness of traditional and targeted therapy has been hampered by the intrinsic heterogeneity of GBM, its highly infiltrative nature, and the severely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. A potential treatment approach that combines direct tumor cell lysis with the induction of anticancer immune responses is oncolytic virotherapy. Herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, poliovirus, vaccinia virus, and parvovirus are among the genetically modified viruses that have shown promising preclinical and early clinical action against glioblastoma. The therapeutic potential of oncolytic viruses has been significantly increased by recent developments in viral engineering, tumor-specific targeting, immune modulation, and combination therapy. This editorial explores the state of oncolytic virotherapy for glioblastoma, emphasizes new developments and persistent difficulties, and offers insights into potential future paths that might revolutionize the treatment of this terrible illness.