The study of measles virus (MeV) as a cancer immunotherapeutic was prompted by clinical observations of leukemia and lymphoma regressions in patients following measles virus infection in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, numerous preclinical studies have confirmed the oncolytic activity of MeV vaccine strains as well as their potential to promote long-lasting tumor-specific immune responses. Early clinical data indicate that some of these effects may translate to the treatment of cancer patients. In this review, we provide a structured summary of current evidence for the anti-tumor immune activity of oncolytic MeV. We start with an overview of MeV oncolysis and MeV-induced immunogenic cell death. Next, we relate findings on MeV-mediated activation of antigen-presenting cells, T cell priming and effector mechanisms to the cancer immunity cycle. We discuss additional factors in the tumor microenvironment which are modulated by MeV treatment as well as the role of anti-viral immunity. Based on these findings, we highlight avenues for rational enhancement of oncolytic MeV immunotherapy by vector engineering. We further point to advantages and drawbacks of experimental models and propose areas warranting promising research. Lastly, we review the available immunomonitoring data from several Phase I clinical trials. While this review presents data for MeV, the concepts and principles introduced herein apply to other oncolytic viruses, providing a framework to assess novel cancer immunotherapies.

1970 年代和 1980 年代麻疹病毒感染患者的白血病和淋巴瘤消退的临床观察促进了麻疹病毒 (MeV) 作为癌症免疫治疗剂的研究。从那时起，许多临床前研究证实了 MeV 疫苗株的溶瘤活性以及它们促进持久的肿瘤特异性免疫反应的潜力。早期的临床数据表明，其中一些影响可能会转化为癌症患者的治疗。在这篇综述中，我们对溶瘤 MeV 的抗肿瘤免疫活性的当前证据进行了结构化总结。我们首先概述 MeV 溶瘤作用和 MeV 诱导的免疫原性细胞死亡。接下来，我们将 MeV 介导的抗原呈递细胞活化、T 细胞启动和效应机制的发现与癌症免疫循环相关联。我们讨论了肿瘤微环境中受 MeV 治疗调节的其他因素以及抗病毒免疫的作用。基于这些发现，我们强调了通过载体工程合理增强溶瘤 MeV 免疫疗法的途径。我们进一步指出了实验模型的优缺点，并提出了值得研究的领域。最后，我们回顾了几项 I 期临床试验的可用免疫监测数据。虽然这篇综述提供了 MeV 的数据，但本文介绍的概念和原则适用于其他溶瘤病毒，为评估新型癌症免疫疗法提供了一个框架。我们强调了通过载体工程合理增强溶瘤 MeV 免疫疗法的途径。我们进一步指出了实验模型的优缺点，并提出了值得研究的领域。最后，我们回顾了几项 I 期临床试验的可用免疫监测数据。虽然这篇综述提供了 MeV 的数据，但本文介绍的概念和原则适用于其他溶瘤病毒，为评估新型癌症免疫疗法提供了一个框架。我们强调了通过载体工程合理增强溶瘤 MeV 免疫疗法的途径。我们进一步指出了实验模型的优缺点，并提出了值得研究的领域。最后，我们回顾了几项 I 期临床试验的可用免疫监测数据。虽然这篇综述提供了 MeV 的数据，但本文介绍的概念和原则适用于其他溶瘤病毒，为评估新型癌症免疫疗法提供了一个框架。